Porunai/Thamirabarani River Civilisation
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister announced that the Porunai/Thamirabarani civilisation dates back to 3,200 years (1155 BC).
This age was determined using carbon dating analysis of rice with soil found in a burial urn at Sivakalai, Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister said archaeological excavations would be carried out in other States and countries in search of Tamil roots.
Tamil Nadu Archaeology Department would conduct research at Quseir al-Qadim and Pernica Anekke (Egypt) as well as in Khor Rori (Oman), to establish the Tamils’ trade relations with these countries.
Already, potsherds bearing Tamil scripts have been found in these countries.
Studies would also be conducted in Southeast Asian countries, such as Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam, where King Rajendra Chola had established supremacy.
Thamirabarani River
The literary community has hailed the Tamil Nadu government for calling the Thamirabarani River by its historical name ‘Porunai.’
About Thamirabarani - Thamirabarani River is the only major perennial river in Tamil Nadu.
It is the state’s shortest river that originates from the Agastyarkoodam peak of Pothigai hills of the Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu.
It empties into the sea at the Gulf of Mannar after passing through Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts.
Naming - Thamirabarani River was historically called Porunai, Than Porunai, Porunal and Poruntham in Tamil literature - from the Sangam era to Nayakar era (6th century BCE to 17th century CE).