Torpedo jar fragment, ring wells found in underwater archaeological exploration off the Poompuhar coast in Mayiladuthurai district

In a first-of-its-kind finding in underwater archaeological exploration in Tamil Nadu, a broken piece of a torpedo jar, believed to have been brought from West Asia during the early historic period, has been found by archaeologists of the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology (TNSDA) during the third phase of the survey off the Poompuhar coast in Mayiladuthurai district.

V.P. Yathees Kumar, Joint Director (in-charge), TNSDA, and three other archaeological experts, found the fragment at a depth of about 10 metres and around two kilometres from the coast, in the sea between Poompuhar, the ancient port city once known as Kaveripoompattinam, and Thirumullaivasal.