Many notable antiquities unearthed in Keezhadi

MADURAI: A new array of antiquities were unearthed on Tuesday at Keezhadi and its cluster sites in Sivaganga district, where the 8th phase of excavations are under way.

The antiquities included an ivory gamesman, iron knife, antimony rod and a copper pendant, said R Sivanandam, Director of Archaeology, on Wednesday.

A fine specimen of a gamesman made out of ivory was found at a depth of 203 cm. It’s cylindrical in shape with slightly concave lateral sides of the object. The top portion is bulged and has a convex protrusion like a doom. The base portion of the gamesman is flat. The object measured 2.5 cm in height and its top diameter measured 2.0 cm while its base diameter measured 2.1 cm, Sivanandam said.

A knife made out of iron was found at a depth of 209 cm. It’s rusted in condition and has a pointed end on one side with a relatively thicker and flat section covered by soil and incrustations. The knife measured 11.8 x 3.7 x 1.7 cm

Another fine specimen of antimony rod was found at a depth of 215 cm. It is bent at one side. This elongated specimen of antimony rod is thin and weathered with a clear bulging observed on both ends of the object. The object is in corroded condition. The object measured 10.1 cm in length and has a thickness of 0.4 cm. The unbent length measured 12.6 cm.

A copper pendant was found at a depth of 215 cm. It was rectangular in shape and flat. The flatter object is folded on one side with a provision for a hole that facilitates it to string with a twine. The object is corroded and covered with patina. The pendant measured (3.0 x 2.7 x 0), he said.