The Tamil Nadu Archaeology Department kick-started a 15-day workshop on ‘Archaeology and Epigraphy’ for research scholars and teachers here on Monday.
The workshop, which was inaugurated by Collector L. Subramanian, would have 40 participants from research centres, colleges and other institutions in the city.
Speaking about the programme, N. Ganesan, Regional Assistant Director of the Department of Archaeology, said the aim of conducting the workshop was to increase awareness of historical structures and equip scholars and teachers with information which they could disseminate to the public.
“The workshop will include sessions on script and language identification, development and documentation. Academicians will also address participants on the history of Tamil Nadu and noted excavations carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India,” he said.
The Collector said out of the 31 places in Tamil Nadu where Tamil Brahmi scripts had been found, 13 places were in Madurai, which included Tirupparankundram, Mangulam, Varichiyur and Muthupatti.
“The community here should be well informed and work together towards preservation of the heritage,” he said.
C. Vasanthi, State Commissioner for Archaeology said the programme had been initiated in Madurai, Coimbatore, Thanjavur and Chennai. Echoing the need for awareness, K. Dharmaraj, District Tourism Officer, said vandalism of historical structures and inscriptions had become a problem, of late. Many participants felt that the workshop would help them pursue extensive research in the origin of scripts and its place in history in Madurai.
“We are keen to learn about places to visit and carry out studies and understand techniques which can be used in the field with respect to documentation,” said Rama Raghu, a field coordinator at Chella Meenakshi Centre for Educational Research.
