Tamil Nadu Finance and Archaeology Minister Thangam Thennarasu has announced that underwater archaeological research has commenced at Poompuhar (ancient Kaveripoompattinam) in Mayiladuthurai district to trace the antiquity of Tamil civilization.
Poompuhar, once a thriving port city of the Chola period, is extensively referenced in Sangam literature and post-Sangam epics as a hub of maritime trade and cultural exchange. To uncover evidence of its submerged remains, the Tamil Nadu Department of Archaeology, in collaboration with the Indian Maritime University, has launched an undersea exploration project.
The study is being led by Professor K. Rajan, with experts including Sivanandham, Joint Director of Archaeology. Using modern methods of exploration, the team aims to establish proof of Tamil maritime trade links and the city’s role in ancient economic and cultural networks.
Minister Thennarasu noted that Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has been consistently working to showcase Tamil heritage at the global level. “This undersea exploration is a vital step in highlighting the global significance of ancient Tamil civilization,” he said.
Archaeologists believe the research at Poompuhar could yield crucial insights into the seafaring traditions of the Tamils and strengthen historical understanding of India’s maritime past.
