TNSDA Uncovers Over 1,000 Artefacts at Vellalore

Exam-focused facts from the 22 July 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

The Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology (TNSDA) uncovered over 1,000 artefacts during the first phase of excavation at Vellalore in Coimbatore.
The artefacts date from the Sangam age to the British period, spanning three phases: 1st century BC to 3rd/4th century AD, medieval period (8th to 15th century AD), and the British period.
The excavation revealed evidence of an ancient settlement spread across nearly 100 acres on the southern bank of the Noyyal river.
Comparative studies suggest some artefacts could be around 2,100 years old, pending scientific dating.
The site, historically known as Velilur, is believed to have been associated with the Velir chieftains under the Chera empire.