Underwater Survey for Sangam-era Port of Korka Launched by Tamil Nadu Government!

The Tamil Nadu government has launched seven-day underwater survey for the Sangam-era port of Korka. This survey is a part of the Porunai (Thamirabarani) river valley civilization explorations to find evidence for the Sangam-era port of Korkai. The survey is conducted by the state government in association with Indian Maritime University and the National Institute of Oceanography.

The major aim of this underwater survey is to find out the location of the ancient Korkai port that was under the Pandiyan kingdom. The ship shall be surveying the seabed to search for any wrecked ships, antiques, artifacts, etc. The survey ship has Sub-bottom Profiler, Sidescan Sonar and Multibeam Echo Sounding.

Thangam Thennarasu, Archaeology Minister said that this survey shall be focussed between Thoothukudi and Tiruchendur. The main aim of conducting this survey is to get a clue about the antiques and artifacts that are going to give a proper idea of the trade practices followed in the kingdom. On the basis of the survey and studies, it shall be decided to conduct future excavations.

The ship was flagged off from the Thoothukudi VOC. Prominent personalities like, Social Welfare and Women Empowerment Minister Geetha Jeevan, Dr. K Senthil Raj, Mayor NP Jegan, Corporation Commissioner T Charushree, port chairman, Dr. T Ramachandran, archaeology department director Sivanandan and Tamil Culture and Archeology Minister Thangam Thennarasu were present at the event.

In 1981, the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology conducted an offshore survey in Poompuhar. Same way, in 2005, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) carried out an underwater survey in Mamallapuram in 2005.

Supporting these initiatives, Chief Minister MK Stalin has allotted funds worth INR 15 crore to carry out the archaeological surveys at seven places. The districts are namely, Vembakottai, Thulukkarpatti, Perumbalai, Keezhadi, Mayiladumparai, Sivagalai, and Gangaikondacholapuram.