The Tamil Nadu Archeological Department excavated 2200 years old Jaina Prayer halls of the Tamil Sangam Age near Mankulam village , 20 km from Madurai , Tamil Nadu. V .Vedachalam , retired ephigraphist of Tamil Nadu Archeological Department said  the halls were " the earliest jaina brick structures in Tamil Nadu" . Large size bricks, tiles, black and red potsherds and L shaped iron nails were found . The architecture bore resemblance to Jaina prayer halls in Udayagiri and Khandagiri hills in Orissa.