From trenches to trails: Keeladi turns an excavation into an experience

Madurai: Visitors on Friday stepped into Keeladi, not into a conventional museum displaying artifacts, but into a preserved excavation site itself, as the Keeladi open air museum was thrown open by chief minister M K Stalin via video conference.Situated about a kilometre away from the Keeladi museum, the open air museum is located at the original excavation site. The museum comprises two exhibition halls located 80m apart and are connected by a linking corridor for public viewing, while another excavation area is yet to be included. Around 48 excavation trenches, the original find spots of these ring wells, brick walls and pottery have been conserved and developed as an open air museum. Surrounded by coconut trees, the excavated remains offers visitors an interpretation of their own, about the past."The scientific analyses of excavations carried out by the Tamil Nadu state department of archaeology have shed new light on the history of Tamil Nadu. In that regard, the Keeladi excavation has created a tremendous impact not only among archaeologists but also among Tamils across the world," state minister for archaeology, Thangam Thennarasu, who was present at the site, said.The Keeladi open air museum is spread over approximately 4.5 acres, with a built up area of 65,380sqft. The superstructure has been designed as a pre-engineered steel structure. The roofing consists of Mangalore tiles and glass. The total estimated cost is 24.3 crore.It has been equipped with drinking water facilities, toilets, lawns and gardens, fire safety systems, and a dedicated parking area.Several students visited the site. Kartickha N, said, "This is the first time I am seeing an excavation site. It is very interesting and wonderful to learn practically by seeing these remains."Priya E from Chennai, who visited the Keeladi museum with her husband and child, said that they also got an opportunity to visit the excavation site. "I am recollecting all my history lessons now," she said.Officials from the archaeology department said that ticket charges for the open air museum will be the same as those for the indoor museum. They added that another excavation area is yet to be included in the museum and will be considered at a later stage.The 11th phase of Keeladi excavations is expected to commence in 2026.