GANGAIKONDACHOLAPURAM AND PORPANAIKOTTAI EXCAVATIONS - ART & CULTURE
News:
Excavations to continue
for another month at Gangaikondachlapuram, Porpanaikottai
What's
in the news?
●
Archaeological excavations at Gangaikondacholapuram in Ariyalur
district and Porpanaikottai in
Pudukottai district are set to continue for at least another month this season.
Key
takeaways:
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Excavations at Maligaimedu continue to throw up more brick structures that are believed to be the part of a Chola-period palace, besides artefacts.
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An ancient
coin mould, a terracotta seal and a piece of broken Chinese ware were among the things unearthed here this
season.
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According to sources, about 650 artefacts — mostly iron nails,
potsherds, broken pieces of Chinese celadon and porcelain ware, shell/glass
bangles and small beads — have been collected from 31 quadrants in 19 trenches
so far this season.
Gangaikondacholapuram:
●
Gangaikondacholapuram,
the city King Rajendra Chola I (1012-1044) built after his victorious
expedition up to the Gangetic plains, was the capital of the Cholas for about
250 years from about 1025 CE.
●
It is widely believed that palaces of
Chola kings had existed there about 1,000 years ago but were destroyed during
the Pandya invasions or later.
Excavations
in Gangaikondacholapuram:
●
Excavations carried out in the 1980s by
the Department of Archaeology unearthed parts of a palace and the city.
●
During the latest phase of excavations
over the past two seasons, more brick
structures of what are believed to be portions of the palace were exposed.
Monuments:
●
The great Brihadeeswarar Temple at this
place is next only to the Brihadisvara temple at Thanjavur in its monumental
nature and surpasses it in sculptural quality.
●
It has been recognised as a World Heritage site by UNESCO.
Excavations
in Porpanaikottai:
●
Brick structures found in Porpanaikottai
were also explained to the officer. The brick structures have three different
cores, and each core belongs to various timelines including the Sangam age and
the Medieval period.
●
Several remains of an ancient fort and antiques were found over the years in
Porpanaikottai village, prompting an archaeological excavation.