Tamil Nadu minister denies any slack in Keezhadi excavation work

Tamil Nadu minister for Tamil language and culture Ma Foi K Pandiarajan Saturday denied any slack in the Keezhadi excavation work and said the state government would not allow the Centre to prevent the work.

Talking to newsmen here after inspecting the excavated sites, he said he had held discussions with the state archaeological department on the next phase of excavation, and where the fifth phase should begin.

The minister said seven gold items were unearthed during the fourth phase and the archaeological survey of India should submit a report on the third phase. He said carbon dating of the articles found during the excavation was being done, and this could be the reason for the delay in the submission of the report.

The minister hoped the report of Athichanallur excavation done 17 years ago would be made available next month. So far, 7,000 artefacts had been unearthed during the excavation, he added.