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Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology

Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology (TNSDA) is the archaeology department of the Government of Tamil Nadu. Founded in 1961, the department is headed by an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer with the designation Commissioner for Archaeology and conducts archaeological excavations in the state of Tamil Nadu.

Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology
தமிழ்நாடு அரசு தொல்லியல் துறை
Formation1961
TypeGovernmental organization
HeadquartersTamil Valarchi Valaagam, Thamizh Salai, Egmore, Chennai
Location
Region
Tamil Nadu
Commissioner
T. Udhayachandran[1]
Parent organisation
Government of Tamil Nadu
Staff263[2]
Websitetnarch.gov.in

Headquarters

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The department initially functioned from a rented house in Besant Nagar, Chennai. In 2003, it moved to its present premises - a newly constructed building named "Tamil Valarchi Valagam" in Halls Road, Egmore.

Library

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The department has a library at its headquarters in Chennai with over 11,500 volumes on archaeology, anthropology, art, history, epigraphy and palaeography. It houses copies of important journals such as Indian Antiquary, Asiatic Researches, Sacred Books of the East, International Journal of Dravidian Linguistics and Journal of Tamil Studies.

Publications

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The department publishes a quarterly journal called Kalvettu. Like the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), it also publishes excavation reports and guide books for tourists, as well as district-wise lists of inscriptions and museum guides.

Epigraphy

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An epigraphy wing was inaugurated in 1966. Since its inception, the epigraphy wing has prepared estampages of about 14,000 inscriptions which are preserved at a facility in Udagamandalam. The department started an institute for epigraphy in 1973–74. The institute conducts one year post graduate diploma courses in epigraphy and archaeology for Tamil history graduates of the University of Madras.

List of directors

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Excavations

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Please see the list here List of Archaeological Excavations Conducted by the Department of Archaeology

So far, the department has excavated 32 sites.

  1. Anaimalai (1968)
  2. Kovalanpottal (1980)
  3. Tiruttangal (1994–95)
  4. Teruruveli (1999-2000)
  5. Kodumanal
  6. Mangudi
  7. Vasavasamudram
  8. Karur
  9. Alangulam

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Who is Who". Department Of Archaeology. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  2. ^ "Administrative Structure | Department Of Archaeology". Department Of Archaeology. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  3. ^ "'Tamils knew language in 10,000 BC itself'". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
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