Image Source: Dinamalar
Ancient Panchaloha idols were unearthed during excavation work at a construction site in Nagapattinam district, as reported in Dinamalar.
According to officials, Ram Prasanna, a resident of North Neela Street in Nagapattinam, is constructing a new building on New Beach Road. During excavation work carried out using a poclain machine on Monday night, workers discovered a set of metal idols buried approximately two feet below the ground.
The findings included a Panchaloha idol ensemble depicting Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, and Lord Murugan seated together on a single pedestal, as well as a two-foot-tall idol of Lord Nataraja.
During excavation for a construction project at Nagapattinam, bronze vigrahas of Somaskanda and Nataraja (about two feet in height), were unearthed pic.twitter.com/eFbviL95ds
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The idols were subsequently handed over to revenue department officials for further examination and safekeeping.
Archaeology enthusiasts who inspected the discovery said the idols are believed to be around 1,000 years old and may predate the Chola period. They noted that their exact age, origin, and historical significance would be determined only after a detailed archaeological study.
Further investigations are expected to be conducted by the concerned authorities.
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