The present book Historical Geography of Vaigai River Valley seeks to update our knowledge based on the findings obtained from the intensive explorations carried out by the authors and excavations conducted in the study area particularly at Alagankulam and Kiladi to understand the processes of cultural transformation from Middle Palaeolithic to Historical period through mutually supportive works and interpretative techniques. The archaeological, epigraphical, literary and numismatic data are analysed and synthesized within a given political, social, economic and religious context to give a cohesive picture on the historical settings of the micro region. The micro level maps provide a good amount of knowledge on the emergence and re-emergence of settlements. The carefully prepared illustrations are self-explanatory and educative. The book provides a kaleidoscopic view on the nature of cultural processes that undergone in the long span of human life.

About the Author

K.Rajan, Professor, Department of History, Pondicherry University studied M.A. Ancient History and Archaeology at the University of Madras and PG Dip. in Archaeology from the School of Archaeology, New Delhi and obtained his Ph.D from Mysore University. He served as a Technical Officer in National Institute of Oceanography, Goa, as a Professor in Tamil University and currently serving in Pondicherry University. He brought to light more than 1500 archaeological sites ranging from prehistory to early historic period. He directed the excavation at Mayiladumparai, Thandikudi, Porunthal and Kodumanal. He has completed twenty five major research projects funded by UGC, INSA, ICHR, ASI, CICT and Ford Foundation. He is the author of 20 books and 120 articles. A few among them are: Understanding Archaeology – Field Methods, Theories and Practices (2016), Early Writing System – A Journey from Graffiti to Brahmi (2015), Archaeology of Amaravathi River Valley - Porunthal Excavations (2014), Recent Researches in the Archaeology of Tamil Nadu (2012), Archaeology of the Palani Hills – A Case Study of Thandikudi (2011), Catalogue of Archaeological sites in Tamil Nadu (2009), Ancient Irrigation Technology – Sluice Technology in Tamil Nadu (2008), South Indian Memorial Stones (2000), Archaeological Gazetteer of Tamil Nadu (1994) and Archaeology of Tamil Nadu (1994).  He is the recipient of the Commonwealth Fellowship as well as Charles Wallace Fellowship respectively tenable at Cambridge University and Institute of Archaeology, University College London. He received the Certificate of Achievement for his work at Kodumanal conferred on by the Shanghai Archaeology Forum at Shanghai, China in 2013. He also received Best Teacher Award of the Pondicherry University in the years 2012 and 2013.

P.Balamurugan, Assistant Epigraphist, Archaeological Survey of India, Mysore obtained M.A., in History and Archaeology and Diploma in Epigraphy from Tamil University, Thanjavur. He obtained M.Phil and Ph.D in History from Pondicherry University. He took active participation in the archaeological excavations at Kodumanal and Porunthal and also in the preparation of Historical Atlas of Tamil Nadu funded by Ford Foundation. He is the co-author of the book NaaDu and Uur in Medieval Tamil Nadu (800-1300 A.D) and had ten research papers to his credit.