Excavations near the coastal town of Kannur have revealed a 9th-century temple belonging to the Mushika dynasty, a lesser-known royal line of ancient Kerala. The most striking feature of the find is the preservation of coral-lime stucco reliefs depicting scenes from the Ramayana, which have survived the humid coastal climate due to a unique indigenous waterproofing technique involving plant resins.
The temple layout follows a Gajaprishta (elephant-back) plan, characteristic of early medieval South Indian architecture. Historians believe the site served as a major religious hub for maritime traders, as evidenced by the discovery of Roman and Chinese coins in the temple's outer courtyard. This discovery is expected to rewrite the architectural history of the pre-medieval Malabar coast.