Chennanur holds secrets to understand ancient South India

ChennaI: Chennanur, a sleepy village in Uthangarai taluk of Krishnagiri district and a key archaeological site in Tamil Nadu, presents a continuous occupational history from the Microlithic to the Medieval Period, making it crucial to understand technological and socio-cultural shifts across prehistoric and early historic period in present-day South India. 

Artefacts unearthed from the site present clear evidence of transition of phases and the accuracy in establishing the period of Chennanur has improved with the support of OSL and AMS dating techniques. 

OSL dating for the site at the Microlithic Level (8450 BCE which is about 10,450 years ago) is not merely a pioneer in excavations in Tamil Nadu but might serve as a reference for future Microlithic studies in the state. AMS date received from Beta Analytical Laboratory, US  -- 2220 BCE (4,245 years ago) also falls under the Neolithic period.

Though Tamil Nadu so far had five locations – Paiyampalli, Valasai, Chettimedu, Mayiladumparai, and Molapalayam – identified as Neolithic Sites, Chennanoor is a treasure trove with about 1 metre of Neolithic deposits being found along with heaps of potsherds. Archaeologists dug 11 trenches in two locations close to each other in the fields from where as many as 327 artefacts have been recovered from different cultural levels. 

Microlithic, Neolithic, and Iron Age layers found in Chennanur have similarities with sites in South India like Maski, Hallur, and Sanganakallu in Karnataka, and Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh, suggesting exchanges of different kinds between them. 

“Chennanur offers a rare window into long-term cultural development in the region. The antiquities, stratigraphy and features present a continuous occupational history from the Microlithic to the Medieval Period,” S Paranthaman, and R Venkataguru Prassana, who excavated the site, wrote in a detailed report.

Paranthaman told DH they discovered six distinct cultural phases –Microlithic Age, Neolithic Age, Iron Age, Early Historic Period, Early Medieval Age, and Medieval Age – reflecting continuous human activity, adaptation and transformation across time. 

This is the second site in Tamil Nadu after Pattaraiperumbudur near Chennai that was continuously habituated from Microlithic Age to Medieval Age, Paranthaman said, adding that the earliest traces of settlement unearthed at this site belong to the Microlithic phase. 

“We found stone tools from the Microlithic Age, and handmade pottery and burnished ware from Neolithic Age, iron tools and black and redware from Iron Age, Tamili letters in three shades from the Early Historic Period. The Neolithic cultural deposits in Chennanoor are very significant,” he added. 

The archaeological evidence discovered will also help understand early human settlement patterns, rock art traditions, lithic technologies and evolving religious practices in this region.

The report, accessed by DH, says the well-stratified nature of the digging site in Chennanur and the presence of clear transition phases make it a key site for understanding technological and socio-cultural shifts across prehistoric and early historic South India. 

The transition layer between Neolithic and Iron Age levels features dolerite cores, broken celts and mixed ceramic forms, marking a dynamic cultural overlap, which reflects a gradual adaptation rather than an abrupt technological shift, as similarly observed at sites like Maski and Hallur in Karnataka. 

The Microlithic layer found at the site -- characterized by gravel-rich reddish-brown soil -- mirrors microlithic traditions witnessed at Sanganakallu and Kurnool where early groups occupied ecologically rich zones near water sources and raw material outcrops. 

Since Neolithic deposits are marked by polished stone tools (celts, hammerstones, sling balls), burnished and coarse red ware pottery, these features are consistent with Neolithic patterns identified at Paiyampalli (Tamil Nadu), Utnur and Nagarjunakonda (Andhra Pradesh) and Tekkalkota (Karnataka). 

“The faunal remains and pit activities suggest that Chennanur was similarly a stable, settled site engaged in animal domestication, food processing and possibly early ritual activity,” the archaeologists added. 

Chennanur was first documented by renowned academic Prof K Rajan in 1997, during which he identified evidence pointing to a burial site, and the discovery of habitation remains alongside burial features indicates a complex social structure and long-term occupation, underscoring the importance of the site’s archaeological significance.

The latest excavation also showed that the Iron Age horizon is marked by compact dark brown soils rich in Black-and-Red Ware (BRW), Red Slipped Ware (RSW), iron tools and structural remains such as lime-coated floors. 

“These layers show evidence of increased domestic and industrial activities, including hearths and extensive use of fire. Such features align with Iron Age occupational signatures at Kodumanal and Adichanallur, reinforcing Chennanur’s position within the larger Iron Age cultural landscape of South India,” the report added. 

Though thinner, early medieval and medieval layers show continued albeit diminished occupation, while fragmented roof tiles and glazed pottery fragments suggest re-use or sporadic habitation, possibly linked to shifting settlement patterns or resource availability.

The report concluded that Chennanur offers a microcosm of cultural transformation, continuity and adaptation over time. Placed alongside major Neolithic and Iron Age sites in peninsular India, the site enriches the comparative understanding of early settlement dynamics, tool traditions and ritual behaviour. 

TNSDA’s excavations are planned to ensure that they cover Prehistoric, Neolithic, Iron Age, Early Historic, and Medieval periods across northern, southern, eastern, western, and central regions of Tamil Nadu. This approach was adopted to avoid the bias of focusing solely on early historic or Iron Age sites and ensuring a holistic reconstruction of the region’s cultural history. 

Archaeological excavations in Tamil Nadu have been creating a buzz for the past few years due to significant findings – the TNSDA has been sending samples to Beta Analytical Laboratory, Florida, US for AMS dating and to Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow, and the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad for OSL dating. 

The latest findings come eight months after the TNSDA said iron implements found at Sivagalai, located on the left bank of the Thamirabarani River, have been dated to 3345 BCE -- the earliest known date for smelted iron not just in India, but anywhere in the world. 

These dates have pushed the introduction of smelted iron in India back by over a millennia compared to previous estimates, positioning the region as a pioneering hub of early metallurgy, surpassing global timelines.