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The State Department of Archaeology was started in the
year 1961 with the objectives of (a) conservation and preservation of
ancient monuments in Tamil Nadu, and (b) to conduct excavations at
historical sites. Subsequently, its activities were expanded to include
Epigraphy (copying and deciphering of stone inscriptions, printing and
publishing them in book form), setting up of site museums, chemical
preservation of art objects, registration of antiquities etc. The aim of
the department is to showcase the rich heritage and glorious traditions
of Tamil Nadu with its classical Tamil languague, magnificent monuments,
exquisite temples, art and sculpture and diversified traditions. This is
essentially a research department to disseminate knowledge about ancient cultural heritage
of Tamil Nadu through a combination of fieldwork,
analysis and publication.
The Department has 8 Field Offices, 14 site museums, a
library at Head Office, the Government Oriental Manuscripts Library and
Research Centre at Chepauk, Chemical Laboratories at Chennai and
Madurai, Photography and videography section, Printing section, besides
the Institute of Epigraphy which operates from the Head Office.
Organisation Structure
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