Context: Recently, Union Finance Minister laid the foundation stone for the ‘Iconic Site Museum’ at the Adichanallur archaeological site in Tamil Nadu.

About Adichanallur archaeological site

• The Adichanallur archaeological site an ancient and historical Iron-age burial site located in Thoothukudi District of Tamil Nadu.

• Iron-age in India was around 1000 BCE.

• It is situated near the banks of the Tamirabarani (Porunai) river. 

• The Adichanallur archaeological site was one of the five that was declared to be developed as 'Iconic Sites' in the Union Budget 2020-21.

• The site will act as a stop for pilgrims travelling to Tiruchendur, contributing to the cultural heritage and tourism of the region.

Findings at the Adichanallur archaeological site

• Objects belonging to 467 BCE and food grains such as millets and paddy belonging to 665 BCE have been unearthed.

• The Archaeological Survey India (ASI) Museum will showcase these artefacts 'in-situ'.

Key facts

• The initiative such as 'Iconic Sites' and ASI Museum will ensure the cultural integrity of the nation by celebrating and organising events such as the Kashi Tamil Sangamam and Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam.

About Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam

• The festival aims to highlight the cultural diversity and to reconnect people with pilgrimage destinations and cultural heritage in order to promote the ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’.

• The link between the region: during the invasions between 600 and 1000 years ago has forced individuals to migrate from Saurashtra in Gujarat to Tamil Nadu's Madurai.

• This settlement is now known as the Tamil Saurashtrian.

• People of Gujarat have settled in places of Tamil Nadu such as Tiruchi, Thanjavur, Kumbakonam, and Salem.