A team of joint researchers from Sri Lanka and India have discovered the foundations of a significant Imperial Chola-era Shiva temple in the Jaffna peninsula. The temple, built during the reign of Rajendra Chola I, serves as physical evidence of the Chola Empire's deep administrative and religious roots in northern Sri Lanka during the 11th century.
The most striking find at the site is a set of zinc-bronze alloy finials (Kalashas) that once adorned the temple's spire. This alloy was specifically chosen for its resistance to sea-salt corrosion, highlighting the maritime engineering expertise of the Chola builders. The site also yielded several granite inscriptions written in a hybrid Tamil-Sanskrit script detailing land grants to local artisans.