2300 year old step well found near Erode

Kodumanal Excavation site

• Located – Erode, a district in Tamil Nadu.

• Northern bank of the Noyyal river – Tributary of River Cauvery.

• Excavation – Megalithic period; Early historic period. • Habitation-cum-industrial site.

• Excavations since 1981.

• Industrial complex – beads and semi- precious stones were manufactured.

• Iron smelting units – forged steel at the site.
• Trade centre – 5th – 1st BCE. • Village – Chera capital of Karur with the Chera port of Muciri in Pattnam in Kerala.

Excavations

• Circle-shaped step-well – found for the first time. • Scientific dating – 2,300 years old.

• 2020 – Rubble masonry wall of 3.5 metres – waterway.

• Current excavation – trench was dug near the
last year’s trench • Result – Discovery of the well.
• Well – 2.65 metres wide; Depth – deposits were
removed.

• Steps – weathered rocks, slopes down from the
ground to the well that served the habitation.

• Two rubble masonry walls existed on either
side of the steps.

• Site – habitation come industrial site
 Water – Used both for household needs as
well as for polishing beads and other industrial activities.
• Other Findings:
 Pottery – Black and red ware, black slipped
ware, russet coated ware and red slipped ware.
 Beads – Quartz and clay.
 Potsherds
 Megalithic cairn circle
 Iron sword
 Double edged axe
 Small daggers