Archaeologist Amarnath Ramakrishna refuses to revise findings on Keezhadi excavations
'The view expressed by you regarding further examination of the sequence is against the well-reasoned and conclusive findings of the excavation at the site,' he wrote in a letter to Hemasagar A. Naik, Director (Exploration and Excavation) at the ASI.
Mr. Naik had cited suggestions made by two experts and asked Mr. Ramakrishna to revise his report by incorporating the necessary corrections, in order to proceed further.
Chronology of the Keezhadi excavation
According to Mr. Naik, the three chronological periods identified in the excavation require proper nomenclature or re-orientation. Additionally, the proposed time bracket for Period I (8th century BCE to 5th century BCE) requires more concrete justification.
Mr. Ramakrishna, who led the Keezhadi excavation, clarified in his response that he had already accepted the suggested changes in nomenclature and had communicated them to the ASI in a letter dated April 10, 2023.
'The chronology of the Keezhadi excavation has been evaluated in accordance with standard archaeological procedures. The periodization of the site was reconstructed based on stratigraphic sequences, cultural deposits, material culture, and Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) dating obtained during the excavation,' said Mr. Ramakrishna, who submitted his report in January 2023.
More than two and a half years later, the ASI has now asked him to resubmit the report to make it 'more authentic.'
In his reply, Mr. Ramakrishna explained that the final conclusions presented in the report were based on detailed findings and were supported by comprehensive documentation. He stated that the chronological sequence of the Keezhadi site was clearly explained in the original report.
Responding to the ASI's request for layer numbers to be marked for comparative consistency analysis, he said this would be done if any such data was found to be missing.
Mr. Ramakrishna also emphasised that all relevant maps, plates, and drawings had been provided in high-resolution formats, both in soft and hard copies, to the ASI at the time of submission. 'Hence, there is no chance of anything being missing. However, if anything is found to be missing, it will be corrected,' he added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Dementia might begin in your legs, not your brain: AIIMS neurosurgeon reveals how to tell if something's wrong
It might sound strange, but doctors and scientists are now saying your walking speed could be one of the first signs that something's wrong with your brain. According to a Times of India (TOI) report, Dr Arun L Naik, a neurosurgeon at AIIMS New Delhi , believes that dementia may start in the legs, not the mind. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Data Science PGDM Technology Data Science Management Degree MBA Digital Marketing Cybersecurity Public Policy Leadership Artificial Intelligence Project Management Healthcare Operations Management Product Management CXO Finance others Others Skills you'll gain: Data Analysis & Interpretation Programming Proficiency Problem-Solving Skills Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence Duration: 24 Months Vellore Institute of Technology VIT MSc in Data Science Starts on Aug 14, 2024 Get Details Why legs matter more than we thought A 2022 study, as cited by TOI, revealed that older adults who walked slower had smaller brain volume and were more likely to show signs of cognitive decline . In simple words, slow legs may mean a slow brain. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Victoria Principal Is Almost 75, See Her Now Reportingly Undo Walking isn't just about moving from place to place. Every step involves your brain working closely with your legs. Your frontal lobe plans the movement, your cerebellum keeps you balanced, and your spinal cord carries the signals. Even your feet send signals back to your brain. So, if your walk starts changing, becomes slower, uneven, or unsteady, your brain might be sending an early warning. Live Events It's all about blood flow Walking does more than move your legs, it pumps fresh, oxygen-rich blood to your brain. This helps clear out harmful toxins and keeps the brain healthy. But when you sit too long and don't move much, blood flow drops, brain fog increases, and over time, your brain may actually shrink. That's why regular movement, even just walking around the house, keeps both your body and brain active. Walking releases the brain's growth booster Another powerful reason to keep walking? It boosts BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor), a natural chemical that helps brain cells grow, survive, and connect better. In short, BDNF is like a fertiliser for your brain. The more you walk, the more of it you release, and that helps your memory and mental sharpness as you age. Strong legs, strong mind As Dr Naik points out, muscle strength in your legs is now seen as a secret sign of brain health. Weak legs not only affect your ability to move or stay balanced but may also link to memory issues. To keep your legs strong, do simple resistance exercises, balance workouts, or even just stand up more often. You don't need to hit the gym. A short walk or light stretching daily can do wonders. Walk with your brain in mind Lastly, there's a smart way to walk. Doctors suggest 'dual-task walking', walking while talking, counting backwards, or solving a small puzzle. It's a way to train your brain and body together, and might help delay memory issues. Your legs and your brain are more connected than you think. So next time you go for a walk, know that it's not just good for your heart, it might just protect your memory too.
India Today
a day ago
- India Today
This gift was offered to the gods 2,500 years ago. We now know what it is
A 2,500-year-old mystery from southern Italy has finally been solved: the sticky residue found inside a set of bronze jars at an underground shrine in ancient Paestum, which was intended as an offering to the breakthrough ends decades of debate among archaeologists and chemists, who, using less advanced techniques, had long assumed the substance was merely an animal fat or mysterious object was honey. Scientiests had long excluded the possibility of honey despite its cultural importance in the ancient bronze jars, six hydriae and two amphorae, were unearthed in 1954 within a sixth-century BCE Greek sanctuary, where they surrounded an empty iron bed deep below ground. (Photo: Journal of the American Chemical Society) A strong waxy aroma emanated from the vessels, which contained a paste-like residue thought to be remnants of a sacred libation. Since then, three separate analyses repeatedly failed to detect sugars, instead identifying fats and pollen, and rejecting honey as their original a modern re-examination, led by chemist Luciana da Costa Carvalho and colleagues from the University of Oxford, has yielded entirely different results. Leveraging advanced mass spectrometry and gas chromatography, the team detected clear biomarkers: degraded sugars, hexose compounds, and major royal jelly proteins, all consistent with aged honey and chemical fingerprint closely matched that of modern beeswax and honey, while the acidity and sugar breakdown were exactly what scientists would anticipate after millennia in metal revered in Greek and Roman culture, honey's religious symbolism was deeply entwined with immortality and divinity, as myths said even Zeus was nourished on honey as an infant. The jars' original contents confirm written and artistic evidence of honey's role in medicine, ritual offerings, and burial rites throughout now believe the Paestum shrine jars once held honeycomb, purposefully sealed and left as gifts to a now-unknown deity, offering a rare, direct link between ancient beliefs and modern archaeological study showcases the power of modern biomolecular tools to re-examine and reinterpret historic finds. It also delivers the first definitive chemical evidence that ancient Greeks truly offered honey—'liquid gold'—to their gods.- EndsMust Watch
Hans India
2 days ago
- Hans India
First confirmed Harappan settlement in Thar Desert unearthed
Jaipur: Researchers have unearthed the first confirmed Harappan settlement in Rajasthan's arid western region, revealing vital clues that are set to reshape the known boundaries of the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation. This marks the first evidence of Indus Valley presence in Rajasthan's deep desert, and is being seen as a vital link between known Harappan sites in northern Rajasthan and Gujarat. The discovery was made at Raatadi Ri Dheri in the Jaisalmer district, a remote desert location nearly 60 km from Ramgarh tehsil and around 70 km from Sandhanawala in Pakistan, where Harappan remnants had previously been identified. The site was excavated by archaeologist Pankaj Jagani and the findings have been subsequently vali-dated by experts from the University of Rajasthan and Rajasthan Vidyapeeth in Udaipur. The artefacts recovered include classic Harappan material culture, red ware pottery, perforated jars, terracotta cakes, chert blades, and clay and shell bangles. A kiln with a central column, wedge-shaped bricks and foundations consistent with the Harappan architectural patterns was also unearthed. 'This is a small but significant rural Harappan site, likely dating between 2600 BCE and 1900 BCE,' said Dr Jeevan Singh Kharkwal, an archaeologist at Rajasthan Vidyapeeth. 'Its location and characteristics bridge an important archaeological gap between northern Rajasthan and Gujarat,' he said. Experts say the site's design elements, such as a kiln similar to those found at Kalibangan and Mo-henjodaro, suggest a complex socio-economic system that extended well into what is today consid-ered an uninhabitable desert. These features point to a once-thriving hinterland that supported trade and artisanal production in the Indus network. Dr Tamegh Panwar, a senior historian from Rajasthan's tourism and cultural department, called the find 'historically significant'. 'The site reflects the dynamics of Harappan rural settlements and their role in connecting urban centres via trade and resource integration,' he said. The discovery, which includes tools made of chert, a fine-grained stone sourced from Sindh and Rohri blade fragments, is further evidence of long-distance exchange and resource mobilisation across the civilisation's vast geography. Archaeologists say the site adds an important dimension to the understanding of Harappan rural networks, especially in resource-scarce desert zones that had been largely overlooked in Indus Valley studies. It also opens the possibility of more Harappan settlements buried under Rajasthan's shifting sands. A detailed research paper by Dr Kharkwal and Jagani has been submitted to an international peer-reviewed journal. If accepted, the site may gain global recognition as a keystone in Harappan studies.
