A state-led restoration project at an 11th-century Chola temple in rural Thanjavur has led to the discovery of a hidden compartment within the granite walls of the maha-mandapa. Inside, officials found ivory-sealed lead containers containing well-preserved palm-leaf manuscripts that document ancient water-sharing treaties between rival agricultural guilds.
These documents offer a detailed look at the complex hydraulic management and social systems of the Medieval Chola empire. The manuscripts are currently undergoing digital preservation to decipher the local dialects and specific irrigation techniques mentioned in the texts, which highlight how sacred sites also served as civic archives for the community.