Chennai, March 2 (BPNS)

The second phase of excavation by the Tamil Nadu state Department of  Archeology at Maligaimedu near Gangaikondacholapuram has unearthed a bracelet made of gold and copper of the Chola era. The bracelet is the first precious object unearthed during the second phase of excavations at Gangaikondacholapuram.

The bracelet weighing 7.920 gm was found at a depth of 170 cm inside the A3 /2 quadrant.  The bracelet which measured 4.9 cm in length and 4 mm in thickness was found in a broken condition and only one-fourth of the bracelet could be excavated.

Officials of the Department of Archeology while speaking to BPNS said, “ Only one-fourth of the bracelet could be found and the ornament clearly indicates the wealth of the Chola dynasty.”

The officials are confident that during further excavations during the coming months more similar treasures would come out and that this would clearly authenticate the economic prosperity and cultural wealth of the Chola dynasty. Gangaikondacholapuram was the capital of King Rajendra Chola 1.

It may be recalled that during the first phase of excavations at Maligaimedu in 2021, the structural remnants of a royal palace in the form of a brick structure and a large number of decorated roof tiles were unearthed.

The excavations at Maligaimedu near Gangaikondacholapuram had earlier unearthed copper coins, ivory and copper objects, iron nails, glass beads and bangles, decorated stones, and Chinese ware.

Archeologists attribute the presence of Chinese ware like porcelain from the site as an indication of the region’s trade with China. Senior officers have during the first phase of excavation at Maligaimedu during 2021 said that the iron nails and roof tiles unearthed from the site were more than 1000 years of age.

At Keezhadi in the Sivaganga district of Tamil Nadu excavations had earlier unearthed creative artwork of wells with multiple terracotta rings and archeologists have stated that these ring wells were more than 2000 years old.