Clues To Missing Pagodas Found

Times Of India ^ | 7-6-2002 | Akshaya Mukul

[blam]

Clues to missing pagodas found

AKSHAYA MUKUL

TIMES NEWS NETWORK [ SATURDAY, JULY 06, 2002 11:49:09 PM ]

NEW DELHI: Submerged structures found off the coast of Mahabalipuram in the Bay of Bengal could well solve the mystery of seven pagodas dating back to the Pallava Period (7th Century AD).

The Archaeological Survey of India’s Underwater Archaeology Wing (UAW) has discovered three walls and a number of carved architectural members of ancient temples running north to south and east to west. Also found are seven big submerged rocks 500 metres off shore.

According to UAW in-charge Alok Tripathi, who undertook the diving 500 metres east and north of the Shore temple in November 2001 and March this year, ‘‘the walls are made of thick slabs of granite. Two long stone slabs, eachwith two vertical slits to receive two other stone slabs, were kept upright. Several such blocks arranged in a row formed a wall.’’

The technique of construction, he says, is so effective that these structures are still in place despite violent sea and high-energy surf.

‘‘The remnants are well carved and look like mouldings and pillars of temple. They are similar to the carvings in the existing temples of Mahabalipuram,’’ he says. Tripathi is hopeful of discovering more structures near the Shore temple. The ASI is planning to undertake diving towards the south of the temple.

‘‘We are planning to dive during the Tamil month of Tai which falls between December and January. We will trace the extension of submerged structures and clean them to reconfirm our conclusion about their nature and purpose,’’ he says.

Part of the local legend, the story of submerged offshore temples was first recorded by William Chambers, a British traveller, in the Asiatic Research Journal in 1788. He quoted older people having seen the ‘‘tops of several pagodas far out in sea’’, covered with copper. By the time Chambers visited the place ‘‘the effect was no longer the same as the copper had been incrusted with mould and verdigris.’’

What lends credence to the UAW’s excavation is a search carried out by divers of UK-based Scientific Exploration Society and Indian National Institute of Oceanography in April. They claimed to have found ruins spread over several square km off the coast. During the expedition, divers came across structures believed to be man-made.

[SunkenCiv]

Note: this topic is from 7/10/2002. Thanks blam.

• Carved rocks, wall found under sea
• Mystery of the smiling Buddha that arrived as a gift from the tsunami
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• More Temples Pop Out of Sea-Bed (Uncovered by Tsunami)
• Tsunami Uncovers Ancient City in India
• The sea claimed an ancient capital of India. Now it has given it back
• Tsunami uncovers stone carvings (India)
• Tsunami throws up India relics -- The Tides of Spirituality
• Tsunami throws up India relics
• Divers find remains of six 'lost temples'

[SunkenCiv]

Note: this topic is from 7/10/2002. Thanks blam.

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[Rebelbase]

“Lost Pagoda”

If not a Chinese restaurant it should be.

[blam]

Boom!