The department following three-week long excavation found the items it claims belong to the Mauryan era. “In the recent excavation we found utensils made from black and brown mud, statues, potteries and utensils. [break]
The antiques are similar to those found during excavation in Tilaurakot,” said archeologist Tarananda Mishra, one of the members involved in the excavation.
The archeological department had earlier carried out an excavation in Panditpur five years ago which was led by archeologist Shukrasagar Shrestha. “As he had found utensils made of brown mud then, the department decided to investigate further hoping to find more of such items,” Mishra said. This time around, the team had carried out excavation at the Kotaimai temple area.
During the excavation, the team also noticed an ancient well. Archeologists assume the well was used as a dumping site then. “A great city and civilization must have existed at that time,” Mishra stated.
He elaborated that statues of lord Ganesh of 11th century, among other statutes, have been found in the latest excavation.
Another archeologist Prakash Darnal added that the objects excavated earlier are indeed antique and are highly valuable. However, they do not belong to the Mauryan era in which Buddha lived. “The objects found this time belong to the Mauryan era,” he claimed.
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