A recent excavation in the Kaveri Delta of Tamil Nadu has uncovered a specialized ritual pit containing dozens of miniature terracotta rice bundles and sun-shaped clay discs. These votive offerings, dating back to the early Sangam period (circa 300 BCE), were found arranged in a circular pattern around a central hearth, mimicking the layout of traditional harvest boiling sites.
Archaeologists believe these finds represent the earliest archaeological evidence of the Thai Pongal festival's ancestral traditions. The presence of specialized clay pots with residues of milk and rice suggests that the practice of ritualistically boiling the first harvest to honor the sun god Surya has remained a cultural cornerstone in South India for over two millennia.