The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) asked archaeologist Amarnath Ramakrishna to resubmit his Keezhadi excavation report after making corrections.
Two experts reviewed his original report and suggested changes to make it more accurate.
Ramakrishna used carbon dating (accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS)) to date the Keezhadi site to around 200 BCE and prepared a detailed 982-page report.
ASI wants clearer explanations for the time periods in the report, especially the claim of a settlement from 8th to 5th century BCE.
ASI says the earliest period should be dated no earlier than around 300 BCE based on current knowledge.
Former IAS officer R. Balakrishnan criticized ASI’s decision, calling it unprecedented and harmful to historical research.
He emphasized that delaying the release of such reports is worse than incomplete excavations.
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