After student discovers Chola period coins, Tamil Nadu to excavate in Ramanathapuram

The Tamil Nadu archeology department in association with the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) will be intensifying the mining process in Ramanathapuram district after a Class 12 student of a government school identified three Chola period coins.

The student identified three coins as belonging to the Chola period after her father, who is a farmer unearthed the coins while plowing in his field.

Muneeswari, the Class 12 student of Suresh Sudha Azhagan Memorial Government Higher secondary school of Thirupullani, said she was trained by the heritage club of the school to identify ancient coins, potteries, and also to read inscriptions on the coins and potteries.

While speaking to IANS, Muneeswari said, "We have a strong heritage club in our school and teachers tell us to identify ancient coins, potteries as also inscriptions on these coins and potteries to gauge out the period of these coins as there was a rich civilization in this part of the world during the period of Raja Raja Cholan and the Chola dynasty that had extended up to Sri Lanka and Vietnam."

V. Rajaguru, the secretary of the heritage club of the school, told IANS, "The students of the school are made aware of such coins and the inscription on the coins and potteries that are unearthed in this part of the world. Recently students have identified Chinese potsherds a few months ago on the school campus."

He said that the student identified the coins as belonging to those issued by the great Chola king Raja Raja Chola after the conquest of Sri Lanka in war and it belongs to the 11th and 12th century CE.

The secretary of the heritage club also said, "Coins were issued during the period of Rajaraja Chola 1 to Kolathunga Chola 1, and the Eelam coins in copper were called Eela Karunkasu or black coins." He said that gold, silver, and copper coins were issued during these periods.

Taking a cue from the Class 12 student identifying copper coins of the Chola period, the Tamil Nadu state archeology department in association with the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) is planning more excavations in the area.

It may be noted that the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archeology (TNSDA) in association with the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) has been doing excavations at Keeladi, Konthagai, and Agaram in the Sivaganga district of Tamil Nadu. Excavations were also carried out in Adichanallur, Sivagalai, and Korkai in Thoothukudi district and also some other places in South Tamil Nadu, and the findings by Muneeswari has led to thinking from the TNSDA and ASI to start digging at Ramanathapuram district also to get some rich inputs on the past during the Chola dynasty period.

A senior official with the TNSDA told IANS, "We are into the initial stages of discussions regarding the excavations at Ramanathapuram and the concept note is not finalised yet. We will carry out some excavations there and have already held discussions with the ASI officials. The date and time for the excavations are not finalised, but we will be doing it."