Chennai, Feb. 10 -- The Tamil Nadu Archaeology Department is planning extensive excavations at Korkai, the ancient port city of the Pandyan Empire. Korkai, a small village in the Srivaikuntam Taluk of Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu, was historically known as Pandya-Kavada in Kapatapuram. It is located approximately 3 km north of the Thamirabarani River and about 6 km from the Bay of Bengal.

This initiative follows Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin's announcement on January 22 regarding the early introduction of iron in Tamil Nadu. He stated, "The Iron Age began on Tamil soil!" and cited carbon dating results from reputed institutions, which indicate that iron usage in Tamil Nadu dates back to 3345 BCE-over 5,300 years ago. A senior...