Seabed structure could be temple
PTI/ New Delhi
Archaeologists have found "structures" buried in the sea off the coast of Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu that shows evidences of "human activities" and could lend credence to the age-old myth of existence of seven temples in the area, five of which are believed to be under the sea.
Mahabalipuram, which was recently ravaged by the killer tsunami, is known as the land of "seven pagodas" and archaeologists say they have found stone blocks and pottery under the sea and are examining whether the site is that of the fabled temples that went underwater.
"Some of the rocks we found under sea bore definite signs of human activities. We have already found remnants of a temple off shore. This new finding is not in isolation and we will have to compare and correlate it with the on shore structures," said Alok Tripathi, deputy superintendent of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
The ambitious expedition, jointly conducted by the Indian Navy and the ASI, began in early 2001 with the aim to clear the mystery behind the seven temples in Mahabalipuram, where only one temple exists now.
"We have recovered artefacts and structures, which resemble the shore temple during the expedition, which lasted for more than three years," Vice Admiral, Sureesh Mehta, deputy chief of naval staff told reporters here.
The ASI undertook preliminary search of the area in 2001 and based on the results, a team of Navy divers and ASI officials carried out extensive exploratory work in the area with INS Darshak, a hydrographic survey vessel, providing administrative support.
Archaeologists have found "structures" buried in the sea off the coast of Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu that shows evidences of "human activities" and could lend credence to the age-old myth of existence of seven temples in the area, five of which are believed to be under the sea.
Mahabalipuram, which was recently ravaged by the killer tsunami, is known as the land of "seven pagodas" and archaeologists say they have found stone blocks and pottery under the sea and are examining whether the site is that of the fabled temples that went underwater.
"Some of the rocks we found under sea bore definite signs of human activities. We have already found remnants of a temple off shore. This new finding is not in isolation and we will have to compare and correlate it with the on shore structures," said Alok Tripathi, deputy superintendent of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
The ambitious expedition, jointly conducted by the Indian Navy and the ASI, began in early 2001 with the aim to clear the mystery behind the seven temples in Mahabalipuram, where only one temple exists now.
"We have recovered artefacts and structures, which resemble the shore temple during the expedition, which lasted for more than three years," Vice Admiral, Sureesh Mehta, deputy chief of naval staff told reporters here.
The ASI undertook preliminary search of the area in 2001 and based on the results, a team of Navy divers and ASI officials carried out extensive exploratory work in the area with INS Darshak, a hydrographic survey vessel, providing administrative support.
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