The weighing unit, found 175 cm beneath the ground, is the first of its kind since excavations began in Keeladi in 2014. (Express Photo)
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New find at Tamil Nadu’s Keeladi: Archaeologists discover crystal quartz weighing unit
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Archaeologists working atKeeladi, a historic excavation site located 12 km southeast of Madurai in Tamil Nadu, have unearthed a crystal quartz weighing unit from the Sangam era. The weighing unit, found 175 cm beneath the ground, is the first of its kind since excavations began in Keeladi in 2014.
Unique in design, the crystal unit has a somewhat spherical shape.
An official statement from the state archaeology department said that the unit measures 2 cm in diameter,1.5 cm in height and weighs a mere 8 grams. In addition, archaeologists also found a terracotta hopscotch, an iron nail, black and red ware, and red slipped ware. Archaeologists also found an earthen snake figurine.
This discovery has stirred excitement among historians and archaeologists as weighing units in the past were primarily made of stones. Even as a detailed assessment on the findings is underway, an expert said they do not know the precise unit that the crystal was used to weigh.
“We can confirm that they were used for weighing purposes. Though we found stone-made weighing units earlier, these were not rock-made but made of minerals. These weighting units were not used for paddy or vegetables but for weighing high-value items such as gold, precious and semi-precious stones. Crystals or mineral materials are used as weighing units because they give accurate results and do not depend on the climate,” said an expert with the state archaeological department.
The crystal quartz unit might have originated in the Kangayam area (near Coimbatore). “Even the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has evidence for this.There are also studies about the availability of crystal quartz in Karur region,” a department expert said. Even as detailed studies are underway, experts estimate that the quartz is probably from a period between 600 BC to 2nd century AD.
Keeladi is currently witnessing the ninth phase of excavations launched by Chief Minister MK Stalin last April. Ongoing archaeological excavations in Keeladi and a few other sites in Tamil Nadu have extended the timeline of the Sangam Era from 300 BCE to 600 BCE.
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Multiple excavations in Tamil Nadu sites initiated by the state archeology department have gained political significance in the light of long-running claims and disputes over Tamil civilisation or Dravidian legacy.
Arun Janardhanan is an experienced and authoritative Tamil Nadu correspondent for The Indian Express. Based in the state, his reporting combines ground-level access with long-form clarity, offering readers a nuanced understanding of South India’s political, judicial, and cultural life - work that reflects both depth of expertise and sustained authority.
Expertise
Geographic Focus: As Tamil Nadu Correspondent focused on politics, crime, faith and disputes, Janardhanan has been also reporting extensively on Sri Lanka, producing a decade-long body of work on its elections, governance, and the aftermath of the Easter Sunday bombings through detailed stories and interviews.
Key Coverage Areas:
State Politics and Governance: Close reporting on the DMK and AIADMK, the emergence of new political actors such as actor Vijay’s TVK, internal party churn, Centre–State tensions, and the role of the Governor.
Legal and Judicial Affairs: Consistent coverage of the Madras High Court, including religion-linked disputes and cases involving state authority and civil liberties.
Investigations: Deep-dive series on landmark cases and unresolved questions, including the Tirupati encounter and the Rajiv Gandhi assassination, alongside multiple investigative series from Tamil Nadu.
Culture, Society, and Crisis: Reporting on cultural organisations, language debates, and disaster coverage—from cyclones to prolonged monsoon emergencies—anchored in on-the-ground detail.
His reporting has been recognised with the Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism.
Beyond journalism, Janardhanan is also a screenwriter; his Malayalam feature film Aarkkariyam was released in 2021. ... Read More
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