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1.  
[ACF-2023, ADGS-2021] The first Old Stone Age tool was discovered at Pallavaram in Tamil Nadu by

Correct Answer: A [Robert Bruce Foote]

Notes:

In 1863 Robert Bruce Foote found the first Palaeolithic hand-axe in India at Pallavaram near Chennai.

2.  
[ACF-2023] Where are a large number of polished stone celts found in Tamil Nadu?

Correct Answer: A [Paiyampalli]

Notes:

Paiyampalli is a major Neolithic site in Tamil Nadu that yielded many polished stone celts (axes).

3.  
[RA-ANIMAL-HUSBANDRY-2023, FISHERIES-INSPECTOR-2023] Archaeology through literary evidence confirms the presence of a 'Roman Factory' in the neighbourhood of Pondicherry during the first century A.D. Where was it located?

Correct Answer: A [Arikkamedu]

Notes:

Wheeler's excavations confirmed a 1st-century AD Roman trading station at Arikamedu near Puducherry.

4.  
[MASS-INTERVIEWER-2023] Where was the Brahmi inscription mentioning musical svaras belonging to the 2nd century A.D. discovered?

Correct Answer: A [Arachalur]

Notes:

The 2nd-century AD Tamil-Brahmi inscription at Arachalur (Erode district) records musical/dance syllables (svaras).

5.  
[COMBINED-ACCOUNTS-2024] The urn burial site of Adichanallur was discovered by

Correct Answer: B [Jagor]

Notes:

The German explorer Jagor first discovered and dug the Adichanallur urn-burial site in 1876.

6.  
[GROUP-1-2024] Which one of the following statements is/are correct regarding the Arikamedu excavation?
(1) Arikamedu is found at Tanjavur
(2) It was a port under the Cholas
(3) It had trade relations with Rome
(4) The Arikamedu port had close trading contact with Kaveripattinam, Alagankulam and Musiri

Correct Answer: C [(2), (3), (4) are correct; (1) is incorrect]

Notes:

Arikamedu is near Puducherry, not Thanjavur; it was a Chola-region port trading with Rome and with Kaveripattinam, Alagankulam and Muziris.

7.  
[CTS-ITI-2024] Potsherds inscribed with ________ script have been unearthed in Keeladi.

Correct Answer: D [Tamil – Brahmi script]

Notes:

Hundreds of potsherds bearing Tamil-Brahmi (Tamili) inscriptions were found at Keeladi, showing early literacy among Tamils.

8.  
[Group 1B&C-2024] The archaeological excavation site Keeladi is located in ________ district.

Correct Answer: C [Sivagangai]

Notes:

Keeladi lies in Thiruppuvanam taluk of Sivagangai district, on the Vaigai river southeast of Madurai.

9.  
[Group 1B&C-2024] Assertion [A] : There are references in the Sangam Literature to those who made tools in Iron.
Reason [R] : Excavations have revealed iron smelting furnaces at Kodumanal and Guttur.

Correct Answer: B [Both [A] and [R] are True; and [R] is the correct explanation of [A]]

Notes:

Sangam texts mention ironsmiths, and the iron-smelting furnaces excavated at Kodumanal and Guttur corroborate this.

10.  
[Special Competitive Exam-2025] Adichanallur excavation related samples are now housed in ________ Museum.

Correct Answer: B [Berlin]

Notes:

Artefacts collected at Adichanallur by the German explorer Andreas Fedor Jagor in 1876 are kept in the Berlin museum.

11.  
[Group 1&1A-2025] Match correctly the excavated materials with their corresponding excavation place :
(a) Shell Bangles – 1. Azhagankulam
(b) Ring Well – 2. Thulukkarpatti
(c) Roman Coins – 3. Keezhadi
(d) Silver Stamps – 4. Vembakottai

Correct Answer: B [4 3 1 2]

Notes:

Ring wells were found at Keezhadi, Roman coins at Azhagankulam and numerous shell bangles at Vembakottai; the only option fitting these is 4 3 1 2.

12.  
[Group 1&1A-2025] Choose the right answer among type :
(i) The Ashoka's Inscription was found at Brahmagiri.
(ii) Chinnamanur Seppedu mentioned Thalaiyalanganathu Pandian Nedunchezhien.
(iii) Thirukkovilur Inscription mentions the death of Avvayar, which was published by T.A. Gopinathanayar.
(iv) Ancient inscriptions not available in Karnataka till AD 10.

Correct Answer: C [(i) and (ii) only right]

Notes:

Brahmagiri (Karnataka) has an Ashokan minor rock edict, and the Chinnamanur plates mention Nedunchezhiyan, victor of Thalaiyalanganam. The Thirukkovilur inscription refers to Kapilar's death, not Avvaiyar's, and early hero stones do exist in Karnataka.

13.  
[Group 1&1A-2025] Match the following :
Excavated sites in Tamil Nadu
(a) Chennai – 1. Mallapadi
(b) Tanjore – 2. Kambar Medu
(c) Dharmapuri – 3. Kodumanal
(d) Erode – 4. Pallavaram

Correct Answer: A [4 2 1 3]

Notes:

Pallavaram is in Chennai, Kambar Medu in the Thanjavur region, Mallapadi in the Dharmapuri (Krishnagiri) region and Kodumanal in Erode district.

14.  
[Group 4-2025] Match correctly the excavated places with their corresponding districts.
(a) Azhagankulam – 1. Sivagangai
(b) Vasavasamudram – 2. Erode
(c) Kodumanal – 3. Kanchipuram
(d) Keezhadi – 4. Ramanathapuram

Correct Answer: D [4 3 2 1]

Notes:

Azhagankulam is in Ramanathapuram, Vasavasamudram in Kanchipuram (now Chengalpattu), Kodumanal in Erode and Keezhadi in Sivagangai district.

15.  
[CTS (IV Post)-2025] Choose among the following the correct statement about Kodumanal
(1) There is a reference to Kodumanal in Pathitrupathu of Sangam literature
(2) Kodumanal is near Trichy
(3) Evidence of Paleolithic burial urn, iron beads and conch carvings have been found in Kodumanal

Correct Answer: B [(1) and (3) only]

Notes:

Pathitruppathu mentions the place as 'Kodumanam'; it is in Erode district, not near Trichy. Megalithic burials, beads and shell objects were found there (the English 'Paleolithic' is a misprint for megalithic).

16.  
[CTS (IV Post)-2025] Who created the worldwide awareness that Tamil Nadu has the most ancient habitation?

Correct Answer: B [Robert Bruce Foote]

Notes:

In 1863 Robert Bruce Foote found a Palaeolithic hand-axe at Pallavaram, revealing Tamil Nadu's prehistoric antiquity to the world.

17.  
[CTS (Non IV Post)-2025] Match correctly the excavation sites and archaeologists
(a) Boombuhar Excavation – 1. H. Subbarayalu
(b) Vellalur Excavation – 2. Nadana Kasinathan
(c) Kodumanal Excavation – 3. R. Nagasamy
(d) Karur Excavation – 4. Poongundran

Correct Answer: A [2 4 1 3]

Notes:

Poompuhar was excavated by Natana Kasinathan, Vellalur by Poongundran, Kodumanal by Y. Subbarayalu (Tamil University) and Karur by R. Nagaswamy (1973).

18.  
[Group 2&2A-2025] Choose the right matches among type :
(1) Kaveripakkam Inscription – Varaguna
(2) Thirumukkudal Inscription – Virarajendra
(3) Tiruvalangadu Plates – Rajendra I
(4) Uthiramerur Inscription – Parantaka I

Correct Answer: C [(2), (3) and (4) are correct]

Notes:

The Thirumukkudal inscription belongs to Virarajendra, the Tiruvalangadu plates to Rajendra I and the Uthiramerur kudavolai inscriptions to Parantaka I; (C) is the only option containing all three.

19.  
[CTS-ITI-LEVEL-II-2025] In Tamil Nadu, archaeological evidence of Sangam people's tradition has been found in several places. Which one among the following is false?
(1) Vasavasamudram
(2) Pattanam
(3) Kaveri Poompattinam
(4) Kodumanal

Correct Answer: B [(2) only]

Notes:

Pattanam is an archaeological site in Kerala (near ancient Muziris), not in Tamil Nadu. Vasavasamudram, Kaveripoompattinam and Kodumanal are all in Tamil Nadu.

20.  
[APP-GR-II-2026] Read the following assertion and reason and select the correct answer from the code given below.
Assertion [A]: The Tamils attained literacy or learnt the art of writing in the 6th century BCE.
Reason [R]: The scientific dates obtained from the objects found in Kodumanal and Porunthal show the date of Tamil Brahmi as 6th century BCE.

Correct Answer: A [[A] is true but [R] is false]

Notes:

Scientific dates from Keezhadi place Tamil Brahmi in the 6th century BCE, so the Assertion is true. The Porunthal and Kodumanal dates point to the 5th century BCE, so the Reason is false.

21.  
[APP-GR-II-2026] Choose the right matches among the following.
(1) Robert Bruce Foote – Adichanallur Archaeologist
(2) Alexander Cunningham – Pallavaram Archaeologist
(3) Andreas Fedor Jagor – British Army Engineer
(4) Stuart – Collector

Correct Answer: A [(4) only]

Notes:

Robert Bruce Foote found the Pallavaram handaxe, and Jagor was a German ethnologist, not a British army engineer. Only Stuart – Collector is a correct pair.

22.  
[APP-GR-II-2026] Name the king whose inscriptions found at Arnattarmalai near Pugalur record a dedication to Jain ascetics.

Correct Answer: A [Ilam Kadungo]

Notes:

The Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions at Arnattarmalai, Pugalur record that the Chera prince Ilam Kadungo had stone beds made for a Jain ascetic.

23.  
[CTS-IV-POST-2026, TNPSC-2022] Assertion [A]: India had maritime trade with the Roman Empire during the early centuries of the Christian Era.
Reason [R]: A large number of Roman coins have been found from the excavations at Arikamedu.

Correct Answer: A [Both [A] and [R] are true and [R] is the correct explanation of [A]]

Notes:

The Roman coins and pottery (Arretine ware, amphorae) found at Arikamedu show Indo-Roman maritime trade in the early centuries CE, so R explains A.

24.  
[CTS-IV-POST-2026] Match correctly the excavation sites with their importance.
(a) Anamalai – 1. Mode of construction of the irrigation system
(b) Tiruttangal – 2. Burial type & burial antiquities
(c) Kannanur – 3. Existence of Megalithic culture at Madurai
(d) Kovalanpottal – 4. Antiquities of Megalithic & Microlithic periods

Correct Answer: B [2 4 1 3]

Notes:

Anamalai – burial type and burial goods; Tiruttangal – megalithic and microlithic finds; Kannanur – how the irrigation system was built; Kovalanpottal – evidence of megalithic culture at Madurai.

25.  
[GROUP-2A-MAINS-2025] Consider the following and find out the correct statement/statements.
(a) Evidence of a planned town, warehouse and ring wells are found in Arikkamedu
(b) The Cheras ruled over the Kaveri delta and their capital was Uraiyur
(c) The Chola emblem was the tiger and they issued square copper coins with images of a tiger
(d) The Sangam Age has its roots in the Bronze Age

Correct Answer: C [(a) and (c) are correct]

Notes:

The Cholas, not the Cheras, ruled the Kaveri delta from Uraiyur. The Sangam Age grew out of the Iron Age, not the Bronze Age, so only (a) and (c) are correct.

26.  
[GROUP-2A-MAINS-RE-2026] People living in the 6th century BC were literate, because:
(1) The pot found at Keezhadi has Tamizhi script engraved on it.
(2) Most of the pots found at Keezhadi were inscribed with letters after the pot had dried.
(3) The black and red coloured pots found in Keezhadi have the image of God engraved on them.
(4) The letters written on the pots were in the same script.

Correct Answer: D [(1) and (2) are correct]

Notes:

Keezhadi potsherds carry Tamizhi (Tamil-Brahmi) letters. Most were scratched on by users after the pots had dried or been fired, which shows that ordinary people could read and write.

27.  
[GROUP-2A-MAINS-REVOKED-2026] Arikamedu:
(1) Excavation site located 2.5 miles south of Puducherry
(2) Archaeological site where excavations were first done in a scientific manner in 1945
(3) Popular tourist destination
(4) Modern scientific city / City of modern science

Correct Answer: D [(1) and (2) correct]

Notes:

Arikamedu is about 4 km (2.5 miles) south of Puducherry. Mortimer Wheeler excavated it scientifically in 1945.

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