Punch-marked gold cash relationship again to Vijayanagara-era unearthed in Tiruvannamalai

One hundred and three punch-marked gold cash dated to Vijayanagara period had been present in a earthen pot when a team of workers dug up a trench on the sanctum sanctorum of the Later Chola-era constructed Shiva temple in Kovilur hamlet, round 10 kms from Jamunamarathur village atop Jawadhu Hills in Tiruvannamalai.

Officials of HR&CE, which was concerned in restoration of the traditional temple at a price of ₹ 2.5 crore, mentioned {that a} team of workers had been digging a trench within the sanctum sanctorum after they hit a small pot. They discovered a bunch of gold cash in numerous shapes and sizes. Immediately, they knowledgeable income officers and police, who rushed to the spot. ”Based on an alert from staff, we collected gold cash from the temple premises. Archeologists from Tamil Nadu State Archaeology Department (TNSAD) will assess its heritage worth earlier than cash are handed over to the district treasury,” S. Durai, Tasildar (Jamunamarathur), instructed The Hindu. 

Revenue officers additionally apprised concerning the discovery of cash to Collector Okay. Tharpagaraj, who’s the custodian of district treasury as per Indian Treasure Trove Act, 1878. Mr. Tharpagaraj has directed district curator S. Baskar to evaluate the found cash and submit a report back to him. 

Archeologists mentioned that cash of varied metals together with gold, silver, and copper had been made throughout the historic interval for 2 causes. Coins got as choices to God and buried underneath the sanctum sanctorum of a temple with a perception that such an act will deliver prosperity to the area. Secondly, cash had been minted primarily as a mode of fee for commerce. “Traditionally, gold cash are minted primarily as choices to god. Copper and different metallic cash are used for commerce on account of their sturdiness. Such cash (copper) are additionally extensively circulated as a result of they can’t be melted like gold cash,” mentioned Okay. Sridharan, retired Deputy Director, TNSAD. 

Archeologists mentioned that gold cash, on a median, can be round 5 milimetres in measurement. The cash could possibly be 600 years outdated throughout the Vijayanagara period. Gold cash discovered within the temple have the symbol of a pig, an animal depicted by Vijayanagara rulers in varied engravings. Such providing of gold cash to temples was achieved throughout that interval as a result of a lot of temples had been constructed underneath Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagara empire as a part of reviving temple structure within the area. Coins made throughout this era can be round in form whereas cash in Sangam age are square-shaped.

Revenue officers mentioned that the Collector can direct treasury officers to handover cash to the district museum curator to show it for the general public to study its wealthy heritage.