KOZHIKODE: With over 25,000 cannon balls uncovered from the premises, the 500-year-old Portuguese-built St Angelo’s Fort has become the main attraction of archaeologists and history students. The collection of cannon balls were found at one metre depth while digging a channel for cable laying as part of the light and sound show at the Fort.
Though the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) officials are at the site supervising the developments, it is learnt that there will not be a large scale excavation as some of the historians have demanded.
Meanwhile, the District Administration has requested ASI officials to establish a museum for preserving the cannon balls in Kannur itself. “The cannon balls unearthed from the Fort are 300 to 400 year old, according to preliminary investigation. These cannon balls possess huge archaeological importance and we have asked them to keep it here itself by establishing a museum".
Speaking to DC , Kannur MP P.K Sreemathi said that she would take up the demand for proper ASI preservation of cannon balls at the Fort site with the Minister of State for Culture (Independent Charge) Dr. Mahesh Sharma.
“Once I reach New Delhi, I will meet him and will request for immediate intervention. Nowhere in India, we have found such a huge number of cannon balls and it is our duty to preserve them and to subject them to studies. These cannon balls will help us in the research hugely,” she added.
St. Angelo’s Fort believed to be built in 1505 by Dom Francisco de Almeida, the first Portuguese Viceroy of India, is the first fortress of Portuguese in India on the Arabian sea coast about 2km from Kannur town.
Download the all new Deccan Chronicle app for Android and iOS to stay up-to-date with latest headlines and news stories in politics, entertainment, sports, technology, business and much more from India and around the world.
