Tamil Nadu: 10th century Chola period ancient wells unearthed in Thanjavur district

The Tamil Nadu Archeology Department is doing the excavations with the support of the Archeological Survey of India

May 23, 2022

Seven ancient wells were unearthed while desilting the Karunaswamy temple tank

In Tamil Nadu‘s Thanjavur district, seven ancient wells lined with terracotta rings were unearthed over the last few days while desilting the Karunaswamy temple tank. According to archeologists, the ring wells date back to the 10th Century CE during the Chola period.

The ring wells were noticed when silt was being removed at a depth of about four feet and seven ring wells were unearthed. The temple tank is spread across five and a half acres of land and that tank has not been in use for the past many years

The Tamil Nadu Archeology Department is doing the excavations with the support of the Archeological Survey of India (ASI).

Dr. M Murugan, researcher of Chola period architecture and renowned archeologist said, “These terracotta ring wells were built to benefit humans and cattle in summer, and the total number of wells used to be in odd numbers.”. According to the temple authorities, the inlet canal that brought water from the Vadavarur river was damaged. It was included under the Smart City project of Thanjavur and delisting was again conducted as the flow of water was low.

During the delisting, seven terracotta ring wells were found and the exact date and period of the wells will be found in the coming days, according to the Smart City authorities.

[With Inputs from IANS]

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