Colonial Indologists have played a significant role in the rediscovery of ancient Tamilaham, particularly the excavation of its megalithic cultures. Robert Bruce Foote, considered the “father of Tamil archaeology,” discovered the sites of Adichchanallur and Pallavaram in Chennai. Alexander Rea and Sir Mortimer Wheeler contributed to the catalogue of prehistoric antiquities from Adichchanallur and Perumbair. The Tamil-Roman maritime trade favored the Tamils, with aromatic spices reaching Greece and Rome. Extensive hoards of Roman coins were discovered at the ancient ports of Muziris and Kaveripumpattinam. K. V. Raman of the Tamil University at Tanjavur has identified “things forgotten” at sites like Kodumanal. Megalithic sites in Tamil Nadu have yielded black-and-redware pottery, bronze, and gold artifacts, as well as evidence of patrons’ virtues and accomplishments. The Pandya dynasty, Chola monarchs, and the Hohokan are also prominent figures in the region.
By swanthan1@gmail.com
Dr. S. Swaminathan is right now working as an Associate Professor in the Department of History at Thiruvalluvar Government Arts College, Rasipuram, Namakkal District. In advance, he has joined the Department of History at Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, for his postgraduate degree in history. Subsequently, he joined a full-time Ph.D. research program under the supervision and guidance of Professor N. Rajendran, Dean of Arts and Head, Department of History, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, in 1999. His research topic is “Science in Colonial Tamil Nadu, A.D. 1900–A.D. 1947”. He has applied for and obtained the Indian Council of Historical Research-New Delhi Junior Research Fellowship, and as such, he has been an I.C.H.R. junior research fellow. He was awarded his Ph.D. thesis in 2007. He has exhibited research acumen and administrative skills during the period of his research. He has published many articles during his period of research. He got his current position from the Tamil Nadu Government Directorate of Collegiate Education, Chennai, through the selection of the Tamil Nadu Teachers Recruitment Board, Chennai, in 2008. He has organized a Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education-sponsored two-day state-level seminar on “Social Changes in Tamil Nadu Past and Present” held from April 5 and 6, 2010, and a two-day ICHR-sponsored national seminar on “History of Science and Technology in Tamil Nadu: Colonial Initiatives and Indian Response” held from August 26 and 27, 2010, in the auspicious Department of History, Thiruvalluvar Government Arts College, Rasipuram (637 401).