The archaeological site of Keeladi in Tamil Nadu is challenging the notion that South India was a passive recipient of technology from the north. Excavations suggest a sophisticated civilization contemporary with the Gangetic plains' second urbanization, dating to the Sangam era. This finding contrasts with historical views emphasizing north India as the sole origin of urbanism. The site has become a focal point, with a new book by Sowmiya Ashok exploring the evidence and the political discourse surrounding its interpretation.