Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday informed the assembly that carbon dating analysis of rice with husk, found in a burial urn at Sivagalai in Thoothukudi district has proved that the Thamirabarani civilization dates back to 3,200 years.
The findings of Miami-based Beta Analytic Testing Laboratory have yielded the date of 1155 BC, according to a report in The Hindu. The report was released by the laboratory on August 27.
The chief minister also informed in the assembly the establishment of Porunai Museum in Tirunelveli district at a cost of Rs 15 crore.
Quoting the chief minister, the report said that the findings have established that the Porunai river civilization i.e., Thamirabarani civilization dates back to 3,200 years and it is the task of the government to scientifically prove that the history of the Indian subcontinent began from the Tamil landscape.
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Announcing that archaeological excavations would be carried out in other states and countries in search of Tamil roots, Stalin said that in the first phase, studies would be carried out at the ancient port of Muziris, which is known as Pattanam, in Kerala and it would be done jointly with archaeologists from Kerala to establish ancientness and culture of the Chera empire, according to the report.
Similar studies would also be conducted at Vengi in Andhra Pradesh, Thalaikadu in Karnataka and Palur in Odisha, the chief minister said as per the report.
Stalin, according to the report, said that the state archaeological department would conduct research at Quseir al-Qadim and Pernica Anekke in Egypt, that were once a part of the Roman empire, and in Khor Rori in Oman, to establish the trade relationship of Tamils with these countries.
Stalin further said that similar studies would be conducted in Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia where King Rajendra Chola had established supremacy.