Defence Architecture in Early North Karnataka c11.s2.t1.24

c11.s2.t1.24

The western wing of the wall has a narrow entrance in the middle, it is locally known as 'Diḍḍi' (=small or narrow) gate (Fig.11). The section looking south indicates structural laterite wall in the core supported by retaining walls on the sides at lower part. The upper part is of clay. The structural wall is again concealed by the clay ramp on the sides. The total width of the fort wall here at the base is about 12 m and the height about 10 m. Further the structural wall in the core is exclusively of laterite blocks, which differ in size from those of the section looking east in the north gate. Thus, the constructional details, the material used and the measurements are different from those of the early Kadambas. The western wing of the fortwall, therefore, appears to be still later than that of the early Kadambas, and may be assigned to the later Kadamba period. It was at the same time, it appears that the semicircular projections entirely of clay added to the exteriors of the walls to the northern entrance, serving as bastions and the watch tower, again entirely of clay that is raised on the fort wall a few metres away from the bastion to the left of the entrance, were added since such fortificational features are common during the 10th and 11th C. A.D.