The Archaeological Survey of India said a team was sent to the site after reports of a tunnel being found at the iconic Golconda Fort in Hyderabad to verify the claim. The structure was discovered during work being carried out by the Army’s Artillery Centre, Golconda, behind the fort.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on Friday said a structure recently found near the historic Golconda Fort in Hyderabad is not a tunnel, as had been reported, but a small rectangular chamber made of granite stone.
The clarification came after reports said a tunnel had been found during work being carried out by the Army’s Artillery Centre, Golconda, behind the fort. The ASI said a team was sent to the site to verify the claim and its preliminary inquiry found that the structure was a chamber whose exact purpose is not yet known.
In a release, the ASI said the team included an archaeologist, an engineer, a surveyor and the site in-charge of Golconda Fort. It said the area where the structure was found falls within the prohibited zone of Golconda Fort, which extends beyond 100 metres from the fortification wall.
“Upon preliminary inspection, it was observed that the said structure is not a tunnel but a rectangular-shaped chamber measuring approximately 1.2 m 1.8 m in length and width and 2.2 m in depth,” the release said. It added that the chamber is constructed of granite stone, with rough stone masonry forming an internal wall-like structure.
The team also found a few red-coloured potsherds, which appear to belong to the medieval period, the release said. While the preliminary investigation has made it clear that the structure is not a tunnel but a small chamber, its exact purpose or use could not be identified without a detailed investigation, it added.
