INDEX

S.NO DETAILS OF INFORMATION PAGE NO.

1. Background

2. Objectives of the Department

3. Mechanism available for monitoring the service delivery and

public grievance resolution

4. Powers and duties of the officers and employees

5. Rules, Regulations, Instructions, Manual and Records

6. Official Documents

7. Public Information Officers

8. Appellate Authorities

9. The Decision Making Process

10. Directory of Officers

11. Facilities available to citizens

 1. BACKGROUND

The handbook on “Right to Information Act-2005” has been prepared for providing
information to the common people voluntarily, who seek information. This handbook may be
used as guide for information to the common people who approach the museum office.

Archaeology
Archaeology is the scientific study of past cultures and the way people lived
based on the things they left behind. The purpose of archaeology is to understand how
human beings in the past interacted with their environment, and to preserve the history
for present and future learning. The study of the cultures includes the examination of the
artefacts, objects made, used, or changed by man. To some extent, it can be defined as
our voyage to the past, where we discover who we were and therefore who we are. In
broad scope, archaeology relies on cross-disciplinary research. Archaeology always
relies heavily on the materials left behind by our forefathers.

About the Department

The Department of Archaeology was established in 1961 by the Government of
Tamil Nadu to conserve and preserve the ancient monuments in the State and to
conduct excavations at archaeologically and historically important places. Its activities
also included copying, deciphering and publishing of stone inscriptions, setting up of site
museums, chemical preservation of art objects. A library exclusively for scholars is
functioning at its headquarters, Chennai with valuable, unique and rare books for the
benefit of staff members and scholars.
 2. OBJECTIVES OF THE DEPARTMENT
 Preservation and Conservation of 90 Historical Monuments.

 Identification of historical sites and conducting Excavation at the identified sites.

 Copying of Inscriptions, Deciphering and publishing of inscriptions.

 Displaying of unearthed Archaeological Antiquities for the benefit of general public in

the 14 Archaeological Site Museums.

 Chemical treatment of Archaeological Antiquities.

3. MECHANISM AVAILABLE FOR MONITORING THE SERVICE DELIVERY AND PUBLIC

GRIEVANCE RESOLUTION:

Addreses of officers concerned for communication(Main Office)

1. Commissioner of Archaeology,
Department of Archaeology,
Tamil Valarchi Valaagam,
Thamizh Salai, Egmore,
Chennai – 600 008

2. Deputy Director,
Department of Archaeology,
Tamil Valarchi Valaagam,
Thamizh Salai, Egmore,
Chennai – 600 008

3. Executive Engineer,
Department of Archaeology,
Tamil Valarchi Valaagam,
Thamizh Salai, Egmore,
Chennai – 600 008

4. Deputy Superintending Archaeologist,

Department of Archaeology,
Tamil Valarchi Valaagam,
Thamizh Salai, Egmore,
Chennai – 600 008

5. Assistant Superintending Epigraphist,

Department of Archaeology,
Tamil Valarchi Valaagam,
Thamizh Salai, Egmore,
Chennai – 600 008
6. Assistant Director,
Department of Archaeology,
Tamil Valarchi Valaagam,
Thamizh Salai, Egmore,
Chennai – 600 008

7. Assistant Accounts Officer,

Department of Archaeology,
Tamil Valarchi Valaagam,
Thamizh Salai, Egmore,
Chennai – 600 008.

Addresses of Site Museums

Sl. No Site Museum Address Sl. No Site Museum Address

1. Curator, Site museum, 8. Regional Assistant Director

Department of Archaeology, Department of Archaeology,
Danish Fort Site museum, Thirumalai Nayakar Palace,
Tranquebar – 609 313, Madurai – 625 001.
Nagapattinam District.
2. Deputy Superintending of 9. Curator Site museum,
Archaeology, Department of Department of Archaeology,
Archaeology Marata Site Museum,
Archaeology under water site Kizha Raja Street, (Sarja
museum,Poompuhar - 609 105, Madi)
Nagai District Thanjavur - 613 001.

3. Curator, Site museum, 10. Curator, Site museum,

Department of Archaeology, Department of Archaeology,
Ramalinga villasam, 671, Jawahar Bazar,
Ramanathapuram Karur - 639 001,
Karur District.

4 Curator, Site museum, 11. Curator Site museum,

Department of Archaeology, Department of Archaeology,
2/117, Main Road, Indian Overseas Bank
Gangaikonda cholapuram - 612 Valagam,Nanjundapuram
901 Salai, Ramanathapuram,
Udaiyar palayam Post, Ariyalur Coimbatore - 641 036.
District.
5. Curator, Site museum, 12. Curator, Site museum,
Department of Archaeology, Department of Archaeology,
13, Sidhi Vinayagar Koil Sannathi Street,
Street,Arcot – 632 503, Vellore Coutralam - 627 802,
District. Tirunelveli District.
 Curator, Site museum, 13. Curator Site museum,
6. Department of Archaeology, Department of Archaeology,
I.H.H.Valagam, 133, Kadalur Main Road,
Poondi – 602 023, Thiruvallur Thirukovilur, Vilupuram
District. District.

Curator, Site museum, 14. Curator, Site museum,

7. Department of Archaeology, Department of Archaeology,
Rajarajan Site Museum, Muhamat Ali club Road,
Rajarajan Manimandapam, Dharmapuri – 636 701.
Thanjavur - 613 007.

Working Hours:

Museum Office:10.00A.M to 5.45P.M

Thirumalai Nayakar Palace, Madurai – No leave

Manora, Tanjore - No leave

Maratta Site Museum, Tanjore - No leave

Rajarajan Museum, Tanjore - Only leave on Wednesday and all

Government Holidays

Ramanathapuram, Tranquebar _ Only leave on Friday and all

Government Holidays
Details of Entrance Fee in INR:

District Museums(Madurai, Thanjvur) All other Museums

Per Head Per Head
Indian Adults 10/- Indian Adults 5/-
Indian Children 5/- Indian Children 3/-
Foreign Adults 50/- Foreign Adults 50/-
Foreign Children 25/- Foreign Children 25/-
Photo Fee 30/- Photo Fee 30/-
Video 100/- Video 100/-

4. POWERS AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES

S.No Post Powers & Duties

1 Commissioner of Archaeology Head of the Department of Archaeology,
Government of Tamil Nadu
2 Deputy Director Monitoring of Chennai, Sub offices &
District Museums
3 Deputy Superintending Archaeologist Execution of works of related to exevation
and exploration
4 Executive Engineer In-Charging of Engineering section,
monuments and sanction of estimates

5 Assistant Executive Engineer In-Charging of Engineering section,

monuments and sanction of estimates

6 Assistant Superintending Epigraphist Executing works pertaining to

epigraphy(Inscription)

7 Assistant Director In-Charge of General administrative matters

and manpower management
8 Assistant Accounts Officer In-charge of all financial matters
9 Curators In charge of Archaeological Site Museum in
respective district.
10 Ephigraphist Responsible official to decipher and reading
of inscriptions
11 Archaeological Officer Incharge of writing local history and
collecting antiquities
12 Pre Historic Archaeologist Powers vested to survey pre historic sites
and conduct exevation at pre historic site
13 Archaeologist(Expolaration cum Responsible to find potential sites and
Excavation Archaeologist) conducted systematic excavations
14 Junior Engineer Preparation of estimate, Surveying,
investigation, giving technical guidance and
spot discussion to the field staff
15 Stapathy/Draughts man Preparation of temple drawing, line drawing
and coordinating with Engineers
16 Office Superintendents, Assistants and Clerical and office work
Junior Assistants
17 Technical Assistants Looking after technical works such as
preparation geology of area and participate
in excavation both prehistoric and historic
sites
18 Office Assistant Office work
19 Sales Attenders Sale of Museum publications
20 Watchman, Sweepers, Gardeners Watch & Ward and Housekeeping services
 5. RULES, REGULATIONS, INSTRUCTIONS, MANUAL AND RECORDS

Name/Title of the Document The Archaeological Manual

Type of the Document Manual
Brief write-up on the Document
Non- Technical
Section A- Administration
Section B- Bill
Section C- Conservation/ Technical Wing
Technical
Conservation Wing
Excavation Wing
Archaeological Officer wing
Epigraphic wing
Chemical preservation

In addition, the codes applicable to all Government Departments such as the Tamil
Nadu Finance Code, Tamil Nadu Budget Manual, Tamil Nadu Accounts Code etc. are
applicable to the Department of Archaeology.

6. OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS

S.No Category of the Name of the document Held by/under the control of
document
1. Register Accession Registers – Assistant Directors of the
with concern site museum concerned jurisdiction.
Curators

7. PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICERS

Name of the Public Authority: Department of Archaeology

a. Public Information Officer (in Chennai office):

Designation Phone Fax Email Address

Assistant 044- 28190020 tnarch@tn.nic.in Chennai(Head
Director(H.Q) - Quarters)
Department of
Archaeology,
Tamil Valarchi
Valaagam,
Thamizh Salai,
Egmore,
Chennai – 600
008
b. Public Information Officer (in the concerned districts)

S.No District Designation Phone Email Address

1. 0452- Curator,
Madurai Curator - Department of
2338992 Archaeology,
Site Museum,
Tirumalai Nayak Palace,
Madurai – 625 001.

2. Archaeological Officer,
Thanjavur Archaeological - Department of
District Officer 0436- Archaeology,
Marata Site Museum,
2273623 Kizha Raja Street,
(Sarja Madi)
Thanjavur - 613 001.

3. Archaeological Officer,
Chidambaram Archaeological Department of
Cuddalore Officer - - Archaeology,
District 12/7 Maraiamman Kovil
Street,
R.K. Hospital (2nd
Floor),Chidambaram –
608001,
Cuddalore District

4. Archaeological Officer,
Dharmapuri Archaeological Department of
District Officer - - Archaeology,
Muhamad Ali club
Road,Dharmapuri – 636
701.

5. Archaeological Officer,
Tirunelveli Archaeological Department of
District Officer - - Archaeology,
236, Tiruchundur
Road,Palayamkottai,
Tirunelveli – 672002

6. Archaeological Officer,
Nagerkoil Archaeological Department of
Kanyakumari Officer - - Archaeology,
District District Collectorate
Office Building Campus,
Nagerkoil – 629001,
Kanyakumari District
 Department of
Coimbatore Archaeological Archaeology,
7. District Officer - - Indian Overseas Bank
Valagam,
Nanjundapuram Salai,
Ramanathapuram,
Coimbatore- 641036.

8. Curator,
Poondi Curator Department of
Tiruvallur District - - Archaeology,
I.H.H.Valagam,
Poondi – 602 023,
Tiruvallur District.
9. Curator,
Arcot Curator Department of
Vellore District - - Archaeology,
13, Sidhi Vinayagar Koil
Street,
Arcot – 632 503,
Vellore District.

Curator,
10. Tranquebar Department of
Nagappattinam Curator - - Archaeology,
District Danish Fort Site
museum,
Tranquebar – 609 313,
Nagappattinam District.

11. Curator,
Gangaikonda Curator Department of
Cholapuram - - Archaeology,
Ariyalur District 2/117, Main Road,
Gangaikondacholapura
m - 612 901
Udaiyar palayam Post,
Ariyalur District
12. Curator,
Ramanathapuram Curator Department of
District - - Archaeology,
Ramalinga villasam,
Ramanathapuram - 623
501.

13. Curator,
Thirukovilur Department of
Curator - - Archaeology,
Villupuram 133, Cuddalore Main
 District Road,
Thirukovilur,
Villupuram District.

14. Curator,
Karur District Curator Department of
- - Archaeology,
671, Jawahar Bazar,
Karur - 639 001,
Karur District.

15. Curator,
Coutralam Curator Department of
Tirunelveli - - Archaeology,
District Sannathi Street,
Coutralam - 627 802,
Tirunelveli District.

16. Epigraphist,
Poompuhar Epigraphist Department of
Nagappattinam - - Archaeology,
District Archaeology under
water site museum,
Poompuhar - 609 105,
Nagappattinam District.
17. Epigraphist,
Udagamandalam Department of
Nilgris District Epigraphist - - Archaeology,
274/ E1 Alexanderiya
Cottage, Bank Lane
Udagamandalam - 643
021,
Nilgris District

18. Curator,
Government Curator 044- curator Government Oriented
Oriental goml@ Manuscript Library &
Manuscript 25365130 gmail.c Research Centre,
Library & om Madras University
Research Campus, Chepauk,
Centre,Chennai Chennai-600 005.
 8. APPELLATE AUTHORITIES

S.No Designation Phone Fax Email Address

1. Commissioner 044- - tnarch@tn.nic.in Department of
28190020 Archaeology,
Tamil Valarchi
Valaagam,
Thamizh Salai,
Egmore,
Chennai – 600 008

2. Assistant 044- - tnarch@tn.nic.in Chennai(Head

Director(H.Q) 28190020 Quarters)
Department of
Archaeology,
Tamil Valarchi
Valaagam,
Thamizh Salai,
Egmore,
Chennai – 600 008
3. Assistant 0452- _ _ Department of
Director(Technical), 2338992 Archaeology,
Madurai Site Museum,
Tirumalai Nayak
Palace,
Madurai – 625 001
4. Assistant _ _ _ Department of
Director(Technical), Archaeology,
Coimbatore Indian Overseas
Bank Valagam,
Nanjundapuram
Salai,
Ramanathapuram,
Coimbatore - 641
036.
5. Assistant 0436- _ _ Archaeological
Director(Technical), 2273623 Officer, Department
Thanjavur of Archaeology,
Marata Site
Museum,
Kizha Raja Street,
(Sarja Madi)
Thanjavur - 613 001.
 9. The Decision Making Process

The procedure followed to : Proposals are initiated by the Commissioner of

take a decision for various Archaeology implemented after obtaining sanction of the
matters Government. For conduct of routine programme such as
ordinary exhibitions, lectures, seminars etc, the
Commissioner of Archaeology gives approval himself.
The documental : Proposals are initiated by Commissioner of Archaeology
procedure/laid down and sent to the Secretary to Government, Tourism,
procedures/Defined Culture, HR &CE Department who in turn obtains the
Criteria/Rules to arrive at a orders of the Government following the Business Rules of
particular decision for the Government.
important matters.
The arrangements made to : Policy decisions are notified by the Government. Details
communicate the decisions to of programmes undertaken by the Department of
the public Archaeology are notified through press release.
The Officers at various levels : Deputy Director, , Deputy Superintending Archaeologist,
whose opinions are sought for Executive Engineer, Assistant Executive Engineer,
the process of decision- Assistant Superintending Epigraphist, Assistant Director,
making. Assistant Accounts Officer, Curators, Archaeological
Officers, Epigraphist, Pre Historic Archaeologist,
Archaeologist etc.,
The final authority that makes : Government of TamilNadu
the decision

10. Directory of Officers:

Chennai (HQ):

S.No Name & Designation Phone

1. Ashok Ranjan Mohanty, I.A.S., Commissioner 044- 28190020

2. Thiru.R. Sivanantham, Deputy Director(i/c) 9003249464

3. Thiru. T. Thangavel, Executive Engineer(Monuments) 9444687775

4. Tmt.G.Leela Devakumari, Assistant Director 9444703321

5. Thiru.P.Pathinettampadi, Assistant Accounts Officer 9865459205

6. Tmt. K.Bakiya Lakshmi, Epigraphist 9940030508

7. Thiru. J.Basker, Epigraphist 9789074393

8. Thiru.P.K.Loganathan, Epigraphist 9884919278

 9. Thiru.N.Rajesh, Junior Engineer 9841544396

10. Tmt. N. Prabha, Junior Engineer 9047314911

LIST OF SUB OFFICES OF THIS DEPARTMENT:

(a) Site Museums:

S.No Site Museums District Phone Name Mobile

1. Danish Fort Tranquebar - Thiru P. Baskar 9042987155
Site Museum Nagapattinam
District

2. Marine Poompuhar - Thiru P. Baskar 9042987155

Archaeological Nagapattinam
Site Museum District

3. Rajendra Gangaikonda - Thiru.M. Prabaharan 9840975213

Chola Site Cholapuram
Museum Ariyalur District

4. Ramalinga Ramanathapuram - Thiru. B. Asaithambi 8110015525

Vilasam Site Ramanathapuram
Museum District

5. Islamic Site Arcot - Thiru.J.Ranjith 9941488148

Museum Vellore District

6. Pre-Historic Poondi - Thiru.P.K.Loganathan 9884919278

Site Museum Tiruvallur District

7. Tirumalai Madurai 0452- Thiru. M. Sakthivel 8608222166

Nayak Mahal Madurai District
2338992
Site Museum
8. Rajarajan Site Thanjavur 043- Thiru. T. Thangadurai 9843110622
Museum Thanjavur District
62273623
9. Maratta Site Thanjavur 043- Thiru. T. Thangadurai 9843110622
Museum Thanjavur District
62273623
10. Chera Site Karur - Thiru.M. Prabaharan 9840975213
Museum Karur District

11. Coimbatore Coimbatore - Thiru. S.Nandakumar 8883214103

Site Museum Coimbatore
District
12. Courtrallam Courtalam - Thiru. K. Sakthivel 8608222166
Site Museum Tirunelveli District

13. Tirukovilur Site Tirukovilur Thiru. J. Baskar 9042987155

Museum Villupuram District

14. Hero Stones Dharmapuri - Thiru.M. Prabaharan 9840975213

Site Museum Dharmapuri
District

(b) Archaeological Officer Office:

S.No Archaeological District Phone Name Mobile

Officer Office
1. Thanjavur Thanjavur District - Thiru. T. 9843110622
Thangadurai
2. Chidhambaram Cuddalore District - Thiru P. Baskar 9042987155
3. Dharmapuri Dharmapuri District - Thiru.M. 9840975213
Prabaharan
4. Tirunelveli Tirunelveli District - Thiru. J. Baskar 9042987155
5. Nagerkoil Kanyakumari - Thiru. T. 9843110622
District
Thangadurai
6. Coimbatore Coimbatore District - Thiru. 8883214103
S.Nandakumar
7. Chennai Chennai District - Thiru. J. Baskar 9042987155
8. Thirumalai Madurai District 0452- Thiru. K. 8608222166
Nayakar Mahal,
2338992 Sakthivel
Madurai

(c) Epigraphical Office:

S.No Epigraphical District Phone Name Mobile

Office
1. Poompuhar Poompuhar - Thiru.P. Baskar 9042987155
Nagappattinam
District
2. Udagamandalam Udagamandalam - Thiru. 8883214103
Nilgris District
S.Nandakumar
(d) Regional Assistant Director Office:

S.No Regional District Phone Name Mobile

Assistant
Director Office
1. Coimbatore Coimbatore District - -
2. Tirumalai Nayak Madurai District Thiru. K. 8608222166
Palace, Madurai
Sakthivel
3. Thanjavur Thanjavur District - -

(e) Government Oriented Manuscript Library & Research Centre:

S.No Place District Phone Name Mobile

1. Government Chennai 044- -
Oriented Ashok Ranjan
25365130
Manuscript Mohanty, I.A.S.,
Library & Commissioner
Research
Centre

11. FACILITIES AVAILABLE TO CITIZENS

1. Institute of Epigraphy

2.This department is recognized as research centre leading to pursue Ph.d.,

3. Exclusive library for a research scholars.