School Students Discover 30,000-Year-Old Microliths near Virudhunagar

 Students from the Panchayat Union Middle School in Muthaneri, located in the Narikudi block of Virudhunagar district, have discovered microliths (small stone tools) estimated to be 30,000 years old.

            Through the school's functioning 'Heritage Club,' Headmaster K. Anbuvelan has been providing training to students on how to identify archaeological artifacts and inscriptions. As a result of this initiative, students—including Muthumurugan (5th grade); Akshaya, Vanishri, Mugilrajan, and Manikandan (6th grade); Rahul (7th grade); and Abi and Jenika (8th grade) conducted a field exploration near their homes and at the 'Pudukkanmai' (irrigation tank). During this survey, they discovered potsherds and stone tools, which they subsequently handed over to the Headmaster. The information provided by the Headmaster, V. Rajaguru, President of the Ramanathapuram Archaeological Research Foundation, personally inspected both the discovered stone tools and the site itself. Speaking on the matter, V. Rajaguru stated:

            The students have discovered a variety of artifacts, including microliths, iron ores, black-and-red potsherds, red potsherds, sling stone, potsherd bearing symbols, the spout, iron arrowheads and hopscotches. These artifacts date back to the Mesolithic period, the Iron Age, and the Medieval period of history.

            The Mesolithic period spans from approximately 38,000 BCE to 7,000 BCE. During this era, the inhabitants of these regions utilized small stone tools—known as microliths—crafted from relatively soft stones such as chert, quartz, and jasper, which are found locally in these areas. These artifacts were fitted onto the tips of wooden shafts and utilized for hunting purposes as arrowheads, small knives, and scrapers. These people lived in close proximity to rivers and streams. In this locality, traces of a stream or river that once altered its course can still be found. Microliths—small stone tools—have been discovered in the river basins of the Arjuna, Vaippar, Kruthumal, and Gundar rivers.

            black-and-red potsherds, sling stone and iron artifacts were items in use during the Iron Age, spanning the period from 4000 BCE to 700 BCE. The discovery of iron ores and iron arrowheads suggests that iron smelting activities may have been conducted at this site. Red potsherds date back to the Medieval Period (300 CE – 1300 CE). One particular Red potsherds bears stamped motifs depicting flower and bird.

            The archaeological artifacts unearthed by students have provided crucial evidence establishing that this locality was inhabited by humans as early as 30,000 years ago. Thus he stated.