The remains of a flourishing port town in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu during the Sangam period and the Middle Chola period were discovered.
The discovery was made by the experts from the Department of Maritime History and Marine Archaeology of the Tamil University.
The findings regarding the port town came after an archaeological excavation held at Mandripattinam fishing hamlet in Thanjavur district.
About Sangam Period and Middle Chola Period
Sangam period is the period in the history of ancient southern India (known as the Tamilakam) spanning from c. 3rd century BC to c. 4th century AD.
It is named after the famous Sangam academies of poets and scholars centered in the city of Madurai.
Middle Chola period ranges from AD 850 to 1250
What are the Findings?
Coins
One of the trenches at Sendhalaipattinam yielded eight Ceylon Man type copper coins of the Middle Chola vintage. A silver Pana coin belonging to the Vijayanagar Empire was also found in a trench there.
A square lead coin having punch marks of an elephant was also discovered with a bow on the reverse side.
Handicraft
A piece of a pretty thin metal string was also recovered nearby revealing the astute and intricate hand craft ability of the artisans of the age.
The trenches in all the spots also yielded more than 600 tiny semi precious stones of various types and hues.
Interestingly, several of the mustard-sized stones had still smaller hole in them to allow thread to form a necklace.
There was also a terracotta figurine of an ox head and a snake hood dating back to the medieval period among the recoveries at the trenches.
Indigenous Water Purifying System
At Sendhalaipattinam, the excavators founded the remnants of a mud wall at the floor level, a huge water pot and an indigenous water purifying system using a series of pipes for at least 10 feet.
Gold Artefacts
A piece of core gold and a broke part of gold jewellery were part of the artefacts recovered from that hamlet.
