Feature Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
The State Archaeological Department of Tamilnadu has launched a field study which will survey the Gangaikondachozha Puram Temple to excavate Chozha remains. The temple is located in the Ariyalur district of Tamilnadu, and is said to contain artefacts from the Chozha Dynasty. This is to be done using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), which will look for locations where the remains could be present.
It is to be noted that there have been excavations conducted here in the past, between 1980 and 2008. Several artefacts like burnt bricks, ivory and porcelain shards were unearthed in Maaligaimedu, a village near Gangaikondachozha Puram. Talks are on for conducting similar excavation work in Ayuthakalam and Meikaavalpudur. Centuries-old Chozha era remains are believed to be present in these locations, along with potential documents that describes the water management system of those times. The temple are the areas surounding it are significant as the capital of the kingdom had shifted to Gangaikondachozha Puram from Thanjavur during Rajendra Chozha’s reign.
“Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) approval for excavation was obtained last month. The study in Gangaikondachozha Puram will be one of the major excavations by us after Keeladi and Adichanallur,” Dr R Sivanandam, deputy director, state archaeology department, told TOI.
It was also speculated that the Kumbakonam-Vadalur area as well as the Cholagangam tank will be surveyed, as the Chozha empire extended to those regions as well.