A six-foot-high burial urn, mudhumakkal thazhi , made of clay, and pieces of pots were unearthed at Old Pallavaram on Friday. The artefacts are estimated to be around 2,000 years old.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had earmarked several acres of land in Old Pallavaram for undertaking such excavations, which was objected to by the residents. The archaeological remains were found near Ambedkar Thidal, sources said.
A few clay pieces were initially found by the researchers on Thursday. On Friday, they unearthed a six-foot-high pot. The pot had 12 leg points made of sand mixed with clay, they said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Although only a detailed analysis can ascertain the exact age of the urns, ASI officials said they could be at least 2,000 years old.
“The history of mudhumakkal thazhi goes back to over 3,000 years, and these pots could be at least 2,000 years old, going by their black and brown colour,” an official said. He said it was an ancient Tamil practice to make huge earthen pots to bury people.