பழனி மலையில் பண்டைய சித்தர் ஓலைச்சுவடிகள் கண்டுபிடிப்பு — கார்பன் டேட்டிங்கில் 8 ஆம் நூற்றாண்டு

Archaeologists from the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology discovered a cache of 450 well-preserved palm-leaf manuscripts in a sealed stone chamber in the Palani Hills, carbon-dated to the 8th century CE.

The manuscripts, written in Grantha-Tamil script, contain texts attributed to the Siddhar tradition — Tamil mystic sages known for their advanced knowledge of medicine, alchemy, and spiritual practices.

Initial analysis by Sanskrit and Siddha medicine scholars suggests the manuscripts contain previously unknown formulae for Kalpa Choornam (rejuvenation preparations) and rare disease treatments.

Government Siddha Medical College professor Dr Shanmugham said some of the formulations could be validated against modern pharmacological research: "This could significantly expand our knowledge of Siddha's 5,000-year tradition."

The manuscripts will be digitised and made available to scholars worldwide through the Tamil Virtual Academy.