Ongoing excavations in Adichanallur, Tamil Nadu, have revealed high-status Iron Age burials containing unique gold ornaments, including ear studs and delicate headbands. The presence of such craftsmanship in the 1st millennium BCE confirms the existence of a wealthy and technologically advanced society in the Tamirabharani river valley.
The burial urns also contained iron weapons and carnelian beads, pointing toward extensive trade networks reaching as far as the Roman Empire and Southeast Asia. These finds bolster the cultural significance of the Sangam era's precursors.