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The Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology launched the third phase of underwater archaeological exploration off Poompuhar in Mayiladuthurai district on 6 September 2026, with the Indian Maritime University.
Poompuhar, also called Kaveripoompattinam, was a Sangam-age port near the mouth of the Kaveri on the Coromandel Coast, and the survey seeks its submerged remains.
The survey covers about 250 sq km of seabed roughly 2 km offshore, at depths from 2 to 60 metres, over a 20-day operation ending on 23 September 2026.
A 25-member team including up to 10 divers is using side-scan sonar, echosounders and sub-bottom profilers to find seabed anomalies and buried structures.
Preliminary studies began in February 2025, the first phase followed in September 2025 and the second diving phase in March 2026; the Ministry of Culture told the Rajya Sabha that TNSDA has earmarked Rs 7 crore for land and underwater excavations.
Preliminary studies begin for the multi-phase Poompuhar underwater initiative.
First phase of underwater exploration carried out.
Second phase of diving completed.
Third phase launched with a 25-member team and a 250 sq km survey area.
Scheduled close of the 20-day deep-sea exercise.
Side-scan sonar sends acoustic pulses sideways to build an image of the sea floor. An echosounder measures depth by timing a pulse to the bottom and back. A sub-bottom profiler sends lower-frequency sound that penetrates sediment, revealing structures buried beneath the seabed.
Simple Analogy: Sonar photographs the sea floor; a sub-bottom profiler X-rays what lies under it.
The State agency running the Poompuhar exploration and Tamil Nadu's excavation programme, including the well-known Keeladi excavations.
Central university providing the technical and marine survey support for the exploration.
Union ministry that stated in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha that TNSDA has earmarked Rs 7 crore for land and underwater archaeological excavations.
Poompuhar lies on the Coromandel Coast in Mayiladuthurai district, Tamil Nadu, near the point where the Kaveri meets the Bay of Bengal. Mayiladuthurai was carved out as a district in 2020; the coastline here also carries Tranquebar (Tharangambadi) to the south, and the survey zone extends about 2 km out into the Bay of Bengal.
GS Paper 1 > Indian Heritage and Culture > Ancient India, Sangam age and maritime trade
General Awareness > History and archaeology in the news
What is the Official Language of the state of Tamil Nadu?
Answer: Tamil
What is the Official Language of the state of Tamil Nadu?
Answer: Tamil
The ancient name of Poompuhar, a Sangam-age port city at the mouth of the Kaveri on the Coromandel Coast.
A survey instrument that emits acoustic pulses sideways to build an image of the sea floor and reveal features standing above it.
A marine instrument using low-frequency sound that penetrates sediment to detect layers and objects buried below the seabed.