Excavation in Tiruvallur district and recent luminescence dating in this regard has demonstrated a prehistoric culture around 3.85 lakh years ago, far earlier than presumed in India, Minister for Tamil Culture, K Pandiarajan told the Assembly.
On excavation in historically important sites, Pandiarajan said the government had permitted a research institute for conducting explorations and excavations at Attirampakkam in Tiruvallur district, a pre-historic site.
"This research by the institute (Sharma Centre for Heritage Education), led to detailed investigations into the archaeology and past environments during the Acheulian and middle palaeolithic cultures at the site," he said.
Acheulian' and 'middle palaeolithic' are terminologies related to specific periods, vis-a-vis evolution of stone tools and technology in given regions by humankind during the prehistoric era.
"Luminescence dating, recently demonstrated that tansitional cultures and the middle palaeolithic culture occurred here (Tiruvallur district) from around 3,85,000 to 1,72,00 years ago, far earlier than presumed in India," said the minister who holds the portfolios of art, culture museums and archaeology.
These path-breaking results positioned Tamil Nadu on the global map of prehistoric cultures, he said citing publication by the reserach institute in journals.
The department of archaeology has conducted excavations at 40 historical sites and out of which, 36 excavation reports have been brought out, he said.
During excavation at Alagankulam in Ramanathapuram district, potteries such as Roman rouletted potsherds, wine jar sherds and carnelian beads were recovered.
Also, potteries with embossed figures and Sangam period antiquities were collected.
"This excavation exhibits the political and trade contact between south India and countries around the Mediterranean sea. Totally, 13,974 invaluable antiquities and artefacts have been unearthed," he said.
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