Key insights
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1
Linking flood events to urban abandonment: Dating flood sediments reveals environmental causes for the Keezhadi settlement's desertion, not just cultural or political factors.
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2
River dynamics shape settlement viability: The Vaigai river's shifting course and flooding over centuries impacted habitation choices and urban survival in ancient South India.
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3
Improved archaeological timelines through sediment dating: Distinguishing when floods buried structures allows finer separation of occupation and abandonment periods at complex sites like Keezhadi.
Takeaways
The study identifies a high-energy flood roughly 1,155 years ago as a probable factor in the abandonment of Keezhadi, highlighting river-induced environmental impacts on ancient urban settlements.