**Summary:**
This document addresses Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3655, concerning delays in publishing the excavation report for the Keezhadi archaeological site in Tamil Nadu. The Ministry of Culture, responding on August 11, 2025, states that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) received the excavation report for the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons in January 2023. This report is currently undergoing expert vetting to ensure academic integrity. The ASI has communicated deficiencies in methodology, chronology, interpretation, presentation, and analytical rigor to the lead excavator. While the ASI conducted excavations from 2014 to 2017, the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology has continued the work since 2018. The final report from the State Department has not yet been published. The response does not explicitly state whether Keezhadi has been officially recognized as a site of National Importance, but acknowledges its archaeological potential as the reason for initial ASI involvement.
Key Entities Referenced
Keezhadi archaeological site, Tamil Nadu: An archaeological site in Tamil Nadu, India, that is the subject of an excavation report.
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI): The Indian government agency responsible for archaeological research and the protection of cultural heritage.
Smt. Kanimozhi Karunanidhi: Member of Parliament who raised questions about the Keezhadi excavation report.
Shri S Venkatesan: Member of Parliament who raised questions about the Keezhadi excavation report.
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat: The Minister of Culture and Tourism who provided the answer to the parliamentary question.
Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology: The archaeology department of the government of Tamil Nadu, which continued excavations at Keezhadi after the ASI.
Parliament: The legislative body to which the final report is expected to be tabled.
Ministry of Culture: The Indian government ministry responsible for culture.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3655
ANSWERED ON-11.08.2025
DELAY IN PUBLICATION OF KEEZHADI EXCAVATION REPORT
3655. Smt. Kanimozhi Karunanidhi:
Shri S Venkatesan:
Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:
(a) the reasons for the delay in publishing the excavation report of the Keezhadi archaeological
site in Tamil Nadu, despite completion of multiple excavation phases;
(b) whether the Government has received and accepted the draft excavation report prepared and
submitted to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in January 2023 and if so, the details
thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(c) whether any objections were raised by the Government or ASI officially thereon;
(d) the details of the officer(s) currently entrusted with reviewing or modifying the original
report and the expected timeline for the final report's public release and tabling before
Parliament;
(e) whether the Government has officially recognised Keezhadi as a site of National Importance
despite multiple excavation phases and findings that point to a highly advanced civilization
dating back to before 580 BCE; and
(f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM
(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) The excavation report for the 2014–15 and 2015–16 seasons was received by the
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in January 2023 and has since undergone expert vetting in
accordance with standard protocol. This process is essential to ensuring academic integrity and is
not intended to delay or diminish the significance of the findings.
--(b), (c) and (d) The excavation report for first two seasons has been vetted by experts and
deficiencies in methodology, chronology, interpretation, presentation, and analytical rigor, etc.
have been communicated to the lead excavator.
(e) and (f) Considering the archaeological potential of the site it was taken for excavation up by
ASI between 2014 and 2017. Since 2018, the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology has
continued excavations at the site. However, the final report from the State Department has not
yet been published.
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