A 12th century check dam, constructed during the Chera period, has been unearthed by a team of archaeological enthusiasts in Dindigul district. The check dam, described as an “engineering marvel”, was found across the Amaravathi at Saminathapuram in Palani block, bordering Tirupur district, during the week-end.
P. Narayanamurthy, who led the team from the International Institute of Archaeological Research based in Palani, said they stumbled on a portion of the highly damaged structure. A stone inscription on the check dam revealed that it was constructed by residents of Kadathur village during the rule of Chera King Veera Narayanan in 1157 AD. The structure diverted surplus water in the Amaravathi to Kadathur for irrigation.
The Amaravathi, a tributary of the Cauvery, originates in the Western Ghats in Manjampatti valley between Anamalai hills and Palani hills near the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border, runs for 282 km and joins the Cauvery at Thirumukkoodal near Karur.
Mr. Narayanamurthy said one-fourth of the dam had remained intact and the rest was in a dilapidated state. “In the past, hard rocks were used for constructing the basement of a sluice. Strangely, here bricks had been used for construction of the basement and rocks stacked perfectly over the brick structure to store and divert water into the channel from the river,” he added.
