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Unearthing lost timelines: Marungur Chapter
Unearthing lost timelines: Marungur Chapter

The Hindu

time7 hours ago

  • Science
  • The Hindu

Unearthing lost timelines: Marungur Chapter

From potsherds to iron tools, the habitation mound and burial site add vital data to the archaeological profile of ancient Tamil Nadu's Naduvil Mandalam. N. Sai Charan digs deep into the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology's recently completed excavation Nestled in a belt of lush green cashew groves at Panruti taluk in Cuddalore district, Marungur, an otherwise quiet village, has recently stepped into archaeological spotlight. A short 2-km detour from the Chennai-Kumbakonam Highway near Kollukkaran village leads to this site, where the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology (TNSDA) had recently completed excavation, bringing to light evidence of a long-forgotten past, and further proof of the rich heritage of Tamil Nadu. The region was part of the ancient Naduvil Mandalam or Naduvil Nadu (Central Territorial Division), flanked by the Thenpennai to the north and the Vada Vellar river to the south. Marungur was among eight locations where the TNSDA took up excavations in 2024-25. While the exact period is yet to be confirmed through chemical dating, preliminary findings from Marungur pointed to a well-established settlement, likely inhabited by communities during the transition phase from the later part of the Iron Age to the Early Historic Period, said R. Sivanantham, Director of Marungur excavation, and Joint Director of the TNSDA. He was assisted by archaeologists K. Bakialakshmi and S. Subhalakshmi, as well as research scholars. The exploration by the TNSDA, using remote-sensing techniques such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) mapping and LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) to assess various attributes of the site, revealed that the habitation mound and burial site were positioned at an elevation of 100 metres above mean sea level. Subsequently, a formal excavation was launched to conduct methodical unearthing and analysis of material culture. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, on June 18, 2024, launched the archaeological excavation at Marungur from the State Secretariat, along with excavations at Keeladi and its cluster (Kondagai) in Sivaganga district; Vembakottai in Virudhunagar; Kilnamandi in Tiruvannamalai; Porpanaikottai in Pudukkottai; Tirumalapuram in Tenkasi; Sennanur in Krishnagiri; and Kongalnagaram in Tiruppur. Explorations at Marungur The significance of Marungur came to light more than a decade ago. A report published in The Hindu on March 5, 2010, noted that three potsherds with Tamil Brahmi inscriptions were discovered at an urn burial site in Marungur. J.R. Sivaramakrishnan, a history lecturer at Annamalai University, had first noticed and collected the potsherds when an earthmover dug up the soil for strengthening the Vadalur-Panruti Road at Marungur. 'This is the first time such inscribed pots with Tamil Brahmi letters, usually placed as grave goods in urn burials, have been recovered from any archaeological site in Tamil Nadu. This opens a new chapter in archaeological research in the State,' the report said, quoting three experts, including renowned archaeologist K. Rajan. According to official sources in the TNSDA, one was inscribed with 'a-ti-y(a)-ka-n', and the others with 'a-ma-ṉ' and 'a-ta'. These inscribed potsherds could be dated back to the second or third century BCE, on paleographic grounds. Further explorations revealed a variety of artefacts on the surface of the habitation mound, located adjacent to a pond approximately 600 metres southwest of the burial site. Among the finds were light grey rouletted ware potsherds, black-and-red ware potsherds, microlithic tools, and a crescent-shaped iron chisel. On the southern flank of the habitation mound, remnants of a brick measuring 7×21×42 cm, flat terracotta stones of various sizes believed to have been used to play hopscotch, and beads of various colours – green, purple, yellow, black, and white – were found. Other artefacts included black-and-red ware pottery, terracotta pipes, an urn, circular stands, a lid made of black polished ware, and iron implements. Excavation at habitation mound On the eastern side of the tank at Marungur, a total of eight trenches, each varying in depth based on stratigraphic markers, were excavated at the habitation mound, which is situated in a zone predominantly composed of laterite soil. Decades ago, during the creation of the nearby pond, large volumes of silt must have been dumped over the mound. This anthropogenic activity resulted in the accumulation of nearly 2 metres of overlying silt, which was encountered during trenching, Mr. Sivanantham said. A significant discovery from one of the trenches was the unearthing of two large terracotta storage containers, each measuring approximately 1.25 metres, at a depth of 4.4 metres. In one of these containers, six bone points with sharp edges were found at the bottom. A few more bone points were also unearthed during the excavation. The exposed soil in and around the containers was clear evidence of firing activities. From the same stratigraphic layer, charcoal samples were retrieved, offering an opportunity for radiocarbon dating and further contextual analysis, he said. Two inner cores of conch shells, one of which measured 7 cm in length, were unearthed at a depth of 3.6 metres. A 13-cm-long iron knife, broken into three pieces, weighing 22.97 grams and measuring 2.8 mm in thickness, was also recovered from a depth of 2.57 metres. Various potsherds, including black-and-red ware, red ware, red-slipped ware, coarse red ware, rouletted ware with intricate designs, grey-rouletted ware, brown-slipped ware, and perforated ware, were found during the excavation, indicating remarkable diversity in ceramic usage. They also include 12 graffiti-bearing potsherds, with some of the graffiti resembling Indus signs. Several burnishing tools, used to polish the surface of pottery and terracotta wheels, were also found. The excavation yielded a rich collection of 95 antiquities, including a polished stone axe, carnelian, agate, quartz, glass and terracotta beads, copper bangle fragments, an iron knife, and terracotta objects. Antimony rods were unearthed, their blunt edges indicating that they were used for ornamental purposes. A medieval copper coin from the period of Raja Raja Chola I was also unearthed from the top layers. 'The mother trench excavated on the southwestern part of the habitation mound was nearly six metres deep. Beyond a depth of six metres, traces of natural soil were observed, indicating the absence of any further anthropogenic activity,' said Mr. Sivanantham, adding that Marungur was one of the few places in Tamil Nadu where both the habitation mound and its associated burial site were found. Excavation at burial site At the burial site located in a cashew grove, the archaeologists dug two trenches. During the course of excavation, two laterite stone circles were identified, confirming the presence of megalithic burials. In total, 10 urns were unearthed from these two trenches. The first megalithic structure revealed a laterite stone circle with a diameter of eight metres. The surface of the circle was covered with small laterite stones, which, upon removal, revealed two concentric stone circles – the inner circle composed of medium-sized laterite stones and the outer structure of larger stones. The stone circle was divided into four quadrants for methodical excavation. Initial layers yielded hard laterite stone. At the centre, a large capstone was found, placed to protect the burial urn beneath. The urn itself was placed within a laterite bedrock cavity. This megalith yielded two urns, Mr. Sivanantham said. In the second megalithic burial area, beneath the laterite layers, a fine red soil stratum was encountered, from which eight urns made of red ware were exposed at varying levels and in different sizes. Iron swords were found outside two of the urns, while other iron objects were recovered from inside the urns. One urn yielded red jasper beads, he said. In both the trenches, offering pots around the urns were recovered. These included black-and-red ware, red-slipped ware, black-slipped ware, and plain red ware pots. Proposed scientific analysis The samples collected from the habitation mound and the burial site will be subjected to a range of scientific analyses aimed at establishing the chronology of site formation, dating the artefacts and antiquities, and reconstructing the lifestyle and food habits of the communities that once inhabited Marungur, Mr. Sivanantham said. The charcoal samples will be sent to the Beta Analytic laboratory in Florida, U.S., for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry analysis for dating, while the pollen samples collected will be sent to French Institute of Pondicherry. Further, archaeo-botanical investigations, phytolith and petrology analyses, and Optically Stimulated Luminescence and Thermoluminescence dating will be employed to determine the exposure of sediments and ceramics to heat or light. The continuous cultural development in this region – from the Iron Age to the Early Historic Period – will be established through chronological and scientific analyses based on the unearthed artefacts, Mr. Sivanantham added. The University of Madras had already conducted excavations near Marungur, at Karaikadu and Kudikadu. This site also holds significance as it is located close to the ancient port cities of Arikamedu in the Union Territory of Puducherry and Poompuhar in Mayiladuthurai district. The TNSDA has also mooted preliminary surveys at Manikkollai, nearly 30 km from Marungur, for conducting excavations during 2025-26.

Kiev targets Moscow in another drone raid
Kiev targets Moscow in another drone raid

Russia Today

time10 hours ago

  • Politics
  • Russia Today

Kiev targets Moscow in another drone raid

Ukraine has launched a major drone raid on Moscow and surrounding areas, with more than a dozen UAVs shot down just hours after Kiev claimed it was ready for another round of talks with Russia. Air defenses intercepted at least 15 drones en route to the Russian capital as of 2:30am Sunday morning, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said. He reported no significant damage or casualties on the ground, adding that emergency services were responding at the debris crash sites. Kiev has intensified attempted drone attacks on Moscow over the past week, according to Sobyanin, who has reported similar nightly raids since Wednesday. Ukraine has conducted UAV raids deep into Russian territory for months, often striking residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure. The Russian government has denounced the strikes as 'terrorist attacks' that deliberately target civilians. The latest raid comes just hours after Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky proposed holding a third round of talks with Russia in Istanbul next week. At their most recent meeting in June, the Russian delegation offered a conditional ceasefire, stating that Moscow would agree to a truce if Kiev took meaningful steps to deescalate, including suspending Western military aid deliveries – an offer Kiev rejected. According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kiev is seeking an unconditional pause in the fighting to rearm and regroup its forces. Moscow has warned that it will not tolerate the presence of NATO troops in Ukraine, even under the guise of peacekeepers.

Russian soldier catches Ukrainian drone with bare hands (VIDEO)
Russian soldier catches Ukrainian drone with bare hands (VIDEO)

Russia Today

time20 hours ago

  • Russia Today

Russian soldier catches Ukrainian drone with bare hands (VIDEO)

A Russian soldier has managed to catch a Ukrainian FPV drone mid-air and destroy it, a video obtained by RT shows. The incident occurred in Ukraine's Kharkov Region, when a Russian position came under attack by a Ukrainian UAV. The FPV is seen approaching a dugout covered with pine branches. The drone slips in, with the Russian serviceman emerging moments later, carrying the deadly device in his hands. The soldier proceeds to repeatedly smack the drone against a tree, destroying its rotors and immobilizing the UAV. The serviceman then throws the drone into a crater before returning to his position, footage shows. 'I understand, yes, I could have died, but it's better for me to die alone than for this drone to kill several of our guys at once,' the soldier told his comrades afterward. Usage of assorted FPV drones has increasingly grown amid the hostilities between Moscow and Kiev, becoming one of the key inexpensive short-range tools for both sides. The drones of this type have been actively used to strike installations, armor, and entrenched positions, as well as to hunt down individual soldiers. In recent months, fiber optics-guided FPV drones were fielded first by Moscow and then by Kiev. Such devices offer a secure alternative to conventional radio-controlled drones susceptible to interference, as well as boasting a significantly increased range.

Watch: Chinese Military Unveils Robot Murder Wolves
Watch: Chinese Military Unveils Robot Murder Wolves

Gulf Insider

time2 days ago

  • Politics
  • Gulf Insider

Watch: Chinese Military Unveils Robot Murder Wolves

The Chinese military conducted tactical exercises integrating robotic wolves and infantry-operated drones, underscoring Beijing's push to deploy unmanned systems in modern combat operations, according to state-run media. The 76th Group Army's drills focused on battlefield coordination between personnel and autonomous technologies for reconnaissance, strategic point clearing, fire support and breaching defensive positions, according to a military statement. The exercises represent China's latest effort to advance unmanned warfare capabilities amid growing global competition in military robotics. The robotic wolves, branded 'steel warriors,' debuted at the 2024 Airshow China exhibition before being deployed in joint exercises with Cambodia. During the 2024 'Golden Dragon' exercise, China fielded a rifle-armed robotic wolf for assault operations. The follow-up 'Golden Dragon 2025' exercise featured a UAV equipped with a QBZ-95 assault rifle providing fire cover for ground units. The military demonstrations come as Chinese defense analysts raise concerns about the ethical implications of autonomous weapons systems. In a recent People's Liberation Army Daily op-ed, analysts Yuan Yi, Ma Ye and Yue Shiguang called for 'ethical and legal research' to address risks from militarized robots, warning that malfunctioning units could cause 'indiscriminate killings and accidental deaths.' The PLA Daily authors referenced Isaac Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics, which prohibit robots from harming humans, arguing that militarized humanoid robots 'clearly violate' these principles. They proposed overhauling Asimov's framework for military applications, emphasizing that combat robots must adhere to laws of war by 'obeying humans,' 'respecting humans' and 'protecting humans.' The trio of analysts stressed the need for built-in constraints to prevent excessive force and indiscriminate killing, while cautioning against prematurely replacing human soldiers, noting that robots still lack critical capabilities including speed, dexterity and complex terrain navigation. 'Even if humanoid robots become mature and widely used, they will not fully replace other unmanned systems,' the authors concluded, advocating for balanced integration of robotics into warfare.

Thales takes a key role in industrial drone project
Thales takes a key role in industrial drone project

Tahawul Tech

time2 days ago

  • Business
  • Tahawul Tech

Thales takes a key role in industrial drone project

Thales is planning to take part in Finnish drone project to deploy unmanned aerial vehicles across a variety of industrial sectors. The French multinational is set to provide the Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT) with an unmanned traffic management system (UTM) to handle flight authorisation, geographic information and network identification, and traffic information services. Thales explained its UTM is the first step VTT is taking in Drolo 2, a project to develop and deploy automated drone systems. Work is initially focused on U-Space Finland, a set of regulatory frameworks covering unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) which forms part of wider European initiatives to enable drone operations. Thales stated the frameworks could pave the way for drones to be used in fields spanning 'logistics, agriculture, forestry, airport and construction operations'. Another element of the work involves creating a business environment for the UAV industry, with an overarching goal of putting Finland in the vanguard of drone launches and testing in compliance with European regulations. A testing site is located near the city of Oulu, which Thales explained is an ideal proving ground due to having a 'medium-sized international airport, seaport, inhabited island', a mid-sized city centre and a 5G development centre. Source: Mobile World Live Image Credit: Stock Image

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