K. Rajan, Professor of History, Pondicherry University, and Director of Excavation at Kodumanal, called the unravelling of the gemstone industry, through the various stages of manufacture, \u201ca significant discovery of this year\u2019s excavation.\u201d The discovery confirmed the findings of the previous excavations that Kodumanal prospered as an industrial and trade centre that made iron and steel, textiles, bangles out of shells and exquisite beads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr. Rajan said: \u201cThe occurrence of gemstone, iron, steel, copper-smelting, conch-shell and textile industries suggest that this site survived as one of the important trade-cum-industrial centres from fifth century BCE (Before the Common Era) to first century BCE. The bustling industrial activity brought traders, artisans and skilled labourers from different parts of India to Kodumanal.\u201d Charcoal samples collected from depths of 60 cm, 80 cm and 120 cm from different trenches at Kodumanal and sent for accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) dating were dated to 275 BCE, 330 BCE and 408 BCE respectively, he said. \u201cCultural deposits available this year from a depth of 180 cm may push back the date by a century.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-r4N-P7e4YFE\/UsYz26B-mMI\/AAAAAAAABeE\/a9ooV5QXxdI\/s1600\/25cmkodumanal-1-1497230g.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n