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        A joint exploration by the Indian Navy and the Archaelogical Survey of India (ASI) has yielded presence of well-cut rocks, boulders and structures off Mahabalipuram, indicating human activity in this area during early times, Commodore Bryan A Thomas, Principle Director, Special Operations (Diving), has said.

        He was addressing presspersons onboard INS Ghorpad off Mahabalipuram.

        Bryan said the prime motive of the Navy in involving itself in the effort was to broaden the awareness of its maritime activities and promoting them. He said the divers reached a maximum depth of about 8 metres at times to discover the man-made rocks and other structures such as pots and utensils suspected to be have been used by the people.

        The work at the ancient Pallavaa city had started in the year 2001, with Navy joining hands in the year 2003

        Alok Tripathi, Director-General, ASI, told mediapersons, that the exploration was part of a comprehensive excavation effort jointly carried out by the Indian Navy and ASI. The team had found well-cut, rectangular boulders and stones, thus indicating human activity years ago. However, the conclusions had not been derived yet and they would be placed at an international seminar scheduled to be held in New Delhi in March, he said.

        He said he suspected more temples and similar structures to be submerged under the sea. He said ASI had carried out the exploration work to study the historical context of the city and added that without this aspect such explorations were meaningless.

        Tripathi also said ASI would continue its work till March. The last day of the two-week diving exercise concluded yesterday.