14 Ancient Metal Idols and 7 Pooja Items Unearthed at a construction site in Tamil Nadu
- Inarch Center
- Oct 7
- 2 min read
Trichy: A significant archaeological discovery was made recently at Nathamedu in Kattuputhur in Tiruchi district, 14 metal idols and 7 Pooja items have been unearthed.
The discovery occurred when workers were digging a pit on a piece of poromboke land for the foundation of a solid waste management building.
The Finds:
Among the recovered objects, 14 were idols of deities such as Sivan, Vinayaka, Natarajar, Vishnu Durgai, Dakshinamurthy, Devi, and Seetha Devi. These idols measured between 11 cm and 78 cm in height and weighed from 0.4 kg to 41 kg. The remaining seven items comprised pooja accessories, including a conch, pedestals, and ornamental arches.
Collector V. Saravanan stated that upon receiving the alert, the Thottiyam Tahsildar inspected the idols and subsequently handed them over to the Sub-Treasury at Thottiyam.
The State Archaeology Department has been informed, the period and origin of the idols are yet to be determined. Archaeologists will study the designs and iconography to establish their age, significance, and historical context.
Historical Context:
Tamil Nadu has been an important center for Shaivism dating back to the time of Chola and Pandya, the Shiva and Nataraj idols can be dated back to these periods, also the Nataraj iconography became iconic under the Chola dynasty.
From Vishnu idol and Devi figures we can also trace the evidence of Vaishnavism and Shaktism in the region.
The material of idols can also be determined according to the time period, Panchloha, Broze and Copper were widely used in Southern India also the presence of many idols suggests polytheistic worship tradition.
Similar News:
Last month in Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu (50 KM from Trichy) a team of archaeologists has found a set of sculptures including a Shiva Lingam.
Chairman of Pudukkottai Archaeological Research Society - A Manikandan, said the sculptures could belong to the chola period during the 12th century. The sculptures, representing Saivism, Vaishnavism and Jainism, were unearthed at the site of an ancient kaltali structure used during the chola era.
About Author Bhavik Singh (Volunteer) pursuing his M.A. in Archaeology and Heritage Management (2025-2027) at School of Heritage Research and Management, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar University Delhi.
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