Tamil Nadu: Eight skeletons found in burial urn at Konthagai

MADURAI: A burial urn with eight skeletons was found in Konthagai in Madurai on Friday. The unearthed skeletons was handed over to the experts at Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) for DNA testing.
In 2020, the Tamil Nadu State archaeology department signed an MoU with Harvard University and Madurai Kamaraj University for extensive research of the ancient artefacts unearthed from the Keeladi cluster.
The co director of Keeladi excavation P Baskar said that they had unearthed eight urns in the second phase at Konthagai. "As we have tied up with Madurai Kamaraj University for the DNA testing of the samples, one of the urns measuring 100 cms in height and with a circumference of about 80 cms, was opened in the presence of the experts from the university."
The urn when opened contained a small sword, vessels and terracotta rings.
Baskar said that the presence of the sword was indicative that the skeleton may have belong to a man, who would have been a warrior or soldier. Another urn will be opened on Saturday and after CT scans are done for both the remains, the samples will be sent to Madurai Kamaraj University, he said.
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