400-kg Canon found in a pit at construction site in Dabeerpura of Hyderabad

HYDERABAD:  The usual process of digging the ground to erect iron pillars and raise a building, by the family of of K Anand of Dabeerpura, led to the unearthing of a five-foot iron object that resembled a canon. The 50 sq. yard land in Farhat Nagar of Dabeerpura soon turned into a tourist spot with people from nearby and far off places rushing to get a glimpse of the ‘antique’ discovered in the digging. The revelation was first noticed by Anand’s neighbour who later alerted the police. 

“The weight of the object is over 400 kg and its actual nature can only be ascertained when the archaeology department conducts its study,” said V Shravan Kumar, SI of Dabeerpura police station.  The state archaeology department has been informed about the finding by the police and further studies would be initiated only from Monday, the police informed.   

Meanwhile, historians observe that the iron object in its shape that is evident looks like a canon could have been of the 17th century. “The base is bigger and the mouth is smaller, a usual trajectory that a canon ball passes through,” Md Shafiullah, a city-based historian and member of Deccan Heritage Trust, who saw the canon said.

“The canon might be of Asaf Jahi period,” he added. The make of it is not European, it looks like an Indian made canon. The particular area, after Golconda, is an important place from where the city was defended during 17th century,” said Anuradha Reddy, Co-Convenor, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH).