Tamil Nadu Archaeology Department or Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology is

the archaeology department of the Government of Tamil Nadu. Founded in 1961, the
department is headed by an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer with the
designation Commissioner for Archaeology and conducts archaeological excavations in
the state of Tamil Nadu.

Contents
1 Headquarters
2 Library
3 Publications
4 Epigraphy
5 List of Directors
6 Excavations
7 See also
8 References
9 External links
Headquarters
The department initially functioned from a rented house in Besant Nagar, Chennai.
In 2003, it moved to its present premises - a newly constructed building named
"Tamil Valarchi Valagam" in Halls Road, Egmore.

Library
The department has a library at its headquarters in Chennai with over 11,500
volumes on archaeology, anthropology, art, history, epigraphy and palaeography. It
houses copies of important journals such as Indian Antiquary, Asiatic Researches,
Sacred Books of the East, International Journal of Dravidian Linguistics and
Journal of Tamil Studies.

Publications
The department publishes a quarterly journal called Kalvettu. Like the
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), it also publishes excavation reports and
guide books for tourists, as well as district-wise lists of inscriptions and museum
guides.

Epigraphy
An epigraphy wing was inaugurated in 1966. Since its inception, the epigraphy wing
has prepared estampages of about 14,000 inscriptions which are preserved at a
facility in Udagamandalam. The department started an institute for epigraphy in
1973-74. The institute conducts one year post graduate diploma courses in epigraphy
and archaeology for Tamil, Sanskrit or history graduates of the University of
Madras.

List of Directors
T. N. Ramachandran (1964–66)
R. Nagaswamy (1966–88)
Natana Kasinathan[1]
T. Udhayachandran (Tamil: த. ததததததததததததத) Commissioner of Archaeology, Government
of TamilNadu.
Excavations
So far, the department has excavated 32 sites.

Anaimalai (1968)
Kovalanpottal (1980)
Tiruttangal (1994–95)
Teruruveli (1999-2000)
Kodumanal
Mangudi
Vasavasamudram
Karur
Alangulam