Major restoration efforts at a Later-Chola era Shiva shrine in rural Thanjavur have led to the discovery of a sophisticated 12th-century water purification system. Engineers found subterranean granite channels lined with a specific amalgam of mercury and medicinal herbs, designed to purify the water used for the 'Abhishekam' ritual before it reached the temple tank.
The conservation team, led by the State Archaeology Department, noted that this system is the first of its kind found in a structural temple in Tamil Nadu. The project is now focused on restoring the interlocking stone joints of the Vimana (tower), which had shifted due to seismic activity but remained standing thanks to indigenous dampening technology.