Which of the following statements regarding the Keeladi excavation is/are correct? 1. It provides evidence of an advanced urban settlement along the Vaigai river valley dating back to roughly 580 BCE. 2. The findings suggest that the urbanization in ancient South India was largely religious rather than secular in nature.

Question

Accepted Answer

A. 1 only — Statement 1 is correct as carbon dating of artifacts pushes the Sangam era to around 580 BCE. Statement 2 is incorrect because the artifacts found at Keeladi (such as weaving tools, dice, and pottery) point to a secular, commercial culture with very little evidence of religious worship.

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