Archaeologists working in the rural outskirts of Tanjore have uncovered a 10th-century Later Chola era Shiva temple buried under sediment. The temple is significant for housing a collection of zinc-copper alloy statues, a rare metallurgical blend for that period. These idols represent various forms of Lord Shiva and are noted for their exceptional anatomical detail and fluid artistic style.
Initial surveys of the site indicate that the temple was part of a larger educational complex mentioned in medieval inscriptions but long thought lost. The find includes a bali-peetham (sacrificial altar) with intact floral carvings and a small subterranean vault containing copper plates that record land grants to the temple's resident scholars and dancers.