A Sangam-era brick construction has been unearthed during excavations at Karivalamvantanallur in Tenkasi district, according to the Tamil Nadu Department of Archaeology.
The department began excavations last month at eight locations across the state, including Keezhadi, Pattanamarudur, Karivalamvantanallur, Manikkollai, Adichanur, Vellalur, Telunganur and Nagapattinam. The latest find at Karivalamvantanallur is being compared to brick features earlier reported from Keezhadi.
Excavation director Yatheeskumar said work is under way in two trenches measuring 5 metres by 5 metres each. In one trench, digging up to a depth of about two metres has revealed a ‘P’-shaped brick structure with 28 layers.
Each brick measures about 40 cm in length, 20 cm in width and 7 cm in thickness. The walling shows alternating placement—two bricks laid lengthwise in one layer and single bricks laid crosswise in the next—indicating careful construction.
The purpose of the structure is not yet clear, as the feature continues beyond two sides of the trench. In the second trench, the team has also recovered Sangam-period black-and-red pottery sherds, terracotta objects, coral-like beads, glass and terracotta beads, officials said.
