The ASI here on Friday said a structure recently found at the historic Golconda Fort here is a small rectangular shaped chamber constructed of granite stone and not a tunnel.
The team comprised an archaeologist, engineer, surveyor and the site in-charge of Golconda Fort. The chamber is constructed of granite stone, with rough stone masonry forming an internal wall-like structure. The preliminary investigation has clarified that the structure is not a tunnel but a small chamber.
The area falls within the prohibited area of Golconda Fort, which extends beyond 100 metres from the fortification wall, it said.
Following reports that a tunnel was reportedly found during the work undertaken by the Army’s Artillery Centre, Golconda, behind the fort, an ASI team was deputed to the location to verify the claims, an ASI release said. “Upon preliminary inspection, it was observed that the said structure is not a tunnel but a rectangular-shaped chamber measuring approximately 1.2 m X 1.8 m in length and width and 2.2 m in depth,” it said. The team also noticed a few red-coloured potsherds, which appear to belong to the medieval period, it said. Its exact purpose or usage, however, could not be identified without detailed investigation, it said.
The ASI Hyderabad Circle will report the matter to the Director General, ASI, and, upon approval, a detailed investigation will be undertaken to ascertain the purpose and usage of the chamber and to determine whether similar chambers exist in the surrounding area. It may also be stated that the Bala Hissar portion of Golconda Fort is situated on a hillock, and the fortification wall encloses several other minor structures that were constructed for the utility of the public when Golconda Fort functioned as a residential settlement. The ASI Hyderabad Circle has informed the Artillery Centre, Golconda, not to proceed further with the levelling of the land until a clear picture regarding the discovery emerges through further investigation, the release added. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
