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The Dig: Keeladi and the Politics of India's Past

Sowmiya Ashok

Since its discovery in 2014, the Keeladi excavation has become one of India's most contested digs – hailed by some as proof of an urban civilization in South India and dismissed by others as political mythmaking.

Journalist Sowmiya Ashok traces the serendipitous discovery of this ancient settlement and the political storm it set off.

Her journey takes her from the earliest Iron Age sites in Tamil Nadu to the Harappan site of Rakhigarhi in Haryana and the lost port of Muziris in Kerala. Along the way, she chats with archaeologists while sweating under the scorching sun, clings to rickety platforms at a roaring jallikattu arena, and even tastes ancient pottery at an excavation site.

Blending sharp insight with humour, The Dig reveals how political battles over science and history continue to shape our understanding of India's past.

Sowmiya Ashok

Sowmiya Ashok is a journalist based in Chennai with over 14 years of experience. She has been a correspondent for leading Indian dailies such as The Hindu and The Indian Express, reporting on politics, environment, and culture. In 2019, she reported from Beijing, bringing insightful pieces from China. She holds an MA in political journalism from Columbia University, New York, and has reported from the US, Taiwan, and Sri Lanka.