Minister Thangam Thennarasu releasing “The Nilgiris Archaeology” book at RCTC hall in Udhagamandalam on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: SATHYAMOORTHY M.
A book documenting rock art in Karikiyoor in Kil Kotagiri will be released soon by the State Archaeology Department, said Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu in the Nilgiris on Saturday (November 29, 2025).
Mr. Thennarasu was taking part in an event to release the book “The Nilgiris Archaeology”, curated by Yaakai Heritage Trust, which includes documentation of rock art, burial sites, dolmens, hero stones and inscriptions, as well as the history of the region’s indigenous tribes.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Thennarasu commended the efforts undertaken by the Trust in documenting the sites. “From the British period until today, the Nilgiris has been known for various unique reasons and the hill holds significant importance in the field of archaeology. In the district, the indigenous tribes have expressed themselves through hand-painted rock art throughout the ages. From rock paintings came the development of stone inscriptions,” he said, adding that similar to the rock art sites in Karikiyoor were many such sites of historical and archaeological importance across the State.
“Efforts have been undertaken to document rock paintings across Tamil Nadu, and the collected data will be published. As a first step, the documentation on the Karikiyoor rock paintings will soon be released. The four-year project is nearing completion,” he said.
He also added that the government was conducting research and scientifically documenting heritage sites across the State. Archaeological studies continue, and many more astonishing truths about the antiquity of Tamil civilisation will come to light, he said.
“Alongside government departments, youth from Coimbatore are also performing great work by discovering and documenting symbols of our ancient heritage. Young researchers through the Yaakai Heritage Foundation, have been travelling not only across Tamil Nadu but across many parts of South India since 2017, documenting rare historical symbols, he pointed out.
He also stated that the Trust has so far documented hundreds of hero stones, rock paintings at over 100 sites, burial sites, sculptures and inscriptions across the State.
Sudhakar Nalliyappan, president of Yaakai Heritage Trust, and Kumaravel Ramasamy, secretary, Y. Subbarayalu, former Head of Department of Archaeology and Epigraphy, Tamil University in Thanjavur, R. Poongundran, archaeologist, and Pavel Bharathi, researcher and founder of the Vaigai Archaeological and Cultural Centre, were also present at the event.
The first copy of the book was received by the Nilgiris Collector, Lakshmi Bhavya Tanneeru.
Published – November 30, 2025 07:47 pm IST
