| Official Name: | Perumbalai |
| Settlement Type: | Village |
| Pushpin Map: | India Tamil Nadu#India3 |
| Pushpin Label Position: | right |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Tamil Nadu, India |
| Coordinates: | 11.9633°N 77.9388°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | India |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Tamil Nadu |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | Dharmapuri |
| Timezone1: | IST |
| Utc Offset1: | +5:30 |
| Postal Code: | 636811 |
| Demographics Type1: | Language(s) |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Official |
| Demographics1 Info1: | Tamil |
Perumbalai is a village in Tamil Nadu, India. It is located within Dharmapuri district.[1]
Perumbalai is situated on the banks of Nagavathi River.[2]
Perumbalai has gained local and national attention recently due to discovery of hundreds of artifacts dating back to the 6th century BCE.[3] The artifacts unearthed include terracotta figurines, sherds with geometric symbols and potteries with well-levigated clay.[4] Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M.K. Stalin, released a report of the diggings and finds by S. Paranthaman and R. Venkata Guru Prasanna in June 2024. It was titled "Excavations at Perumbalai, 2022."[5]
Perumbalai area was on the radar of archeologists earlier also, in the 19th and 20th centuries.[6] [7]
Hero stones dating back to the 13th century have also been discovered in Perumbalai.[8]
Excavations are ongoing and may find important clues to ancient Tamil civilization.[9] However, experts have warned that these endeavours have taken on a political turn and may lead to culture wars.[10]