TNPSC Thervupettagam

Ancient Keeladi Faces

July 3 , 2025 2 days 118 0
  • For the first time in South India, the researchers have reconstructed faces from 2,500-year-old skulls found near Keeladi, Sivagangai District.
  • The effort was led by the Madurai Kamaraj University and Liverpool John Moores University.
  • The skulls were excavated from the Kondagai burial site, around 800 metres from Keeladi.
  • CT scans were used to digitally rebuild the upper parts of the skulls; the missing jawbones were estimated using standard orthodontic methods.
  • The facial features reflect South Indian, West Eurasian, and Austro-Asiatic traits.
  • Tissue depth data from modern South Indians helped recreate muscles, skin, and fat layers.
  • A photo database was used to estimate skin, hair, and eye colours.
  • The DNA from burial urns is now being studied with Harvard University to trace genetic ancestry and migration patterns.
  • Keeladi's timeline is dated from the 6th century BCE to the 2nd century CE.
  • This timeline remains under discussion between the Tamil Nadu archaeology department and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

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