The foundation of a temple, built during the Pandyas reign between the seventh and eighth centuries, has been unearthed during an excavation exrecise at a fort here.
The archaeologists carried the excavation at 'Ukkiran Kottai', the fort named after Pandya king Ukkira who ruled between 768-815 BC.
Deputy Superintendent of Archaeology, Vasanthi and Director of Excavation, Ranjit said today that an inscription found at the site revealed that the name of the locality was originally Karavanthapuram and came to be known as 'Ukkiran Kottai' after the fort was constructed.
The fort was one among many garrisons built by Pandya kings to protect the extensive kingdom, surrounded by the sea and hills, they said.
"It was the practise of the Pandya kings to build a temple dedicated to Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar wherever their fort was located. The temple which we have excavated is one such," they said.
The defensive structure of the fort, including a moat, revealed that it could have played a significant role in the security of the kingdom being in a strategic locality, they said, adding that a structure of the dome of the sanctum sanctorum was found in a damaged condition.
The fort had also doubled as an ordnance factory where arms were manufactured.
The archaeologists opined that arms, steel chains and equipment needed for palace security might have been made there and said more details would be known after additional excavation.
The excavated articles would soon be displayed to the public, they said.
