Archaeologists in charge of excavation of the site have refused to divulge exactly how many pieces of gold coins and jewellery have been recovered from the site so far for security reasons. All of them are one-sided minted coins.
While one of the gold coins mentions the name of the local ruler of the then period, Prasannamatra, another gold coin mentions the name of another ruler, Mahendraditya.
On the top of each coin signs of weapons of Lord Vishnu like “Chakra” (disc), and Shankha (conch) and his vehicle “Garuda” have been depicted. In the middle portion, names of the two rulers, Mahendraditya and Prasannamitra, have been mentioned, respectively, in two coins in Brahmi script. Similarly, in the lower portion of each coin, a “Kalash” (pot) has been portrayed. The site was on Monday invaded by “treasure hunters” from the nearby villages after the news of recovery of gold coins and jewellery spread in the locality. The state archaeology department has sought police help to strengthen security measures in the site to prevent theft of the treasure trove. “Recovery of gold coins and ornaments indicates that the settlements were prosperous,” archaeologist Atul Pradhan, who is also involved in excavation of the site, said.
Excavation has also revealed five cultural periods, such as pre-historic, early historic (pre-Kushan), Sung-Kushan, Satabhahan and Gupta (Sarvapuria). Other significant discoveries from the site included terracotta figurines of both humans and animals, belonging to the Sung-Kushan period (1st century BC to 1st century AD), gambling items (pasha) made of ivory, stone and terracotta and daily-use utensils such as jar, pot, high-necked jar and bowls of terracotta.
The excavation has also brought to the fore a well-planned township buried underneath. “The excavation is set to open a new epoch in Indian history in general, and Chhattisgarh history in particular,” Mr Pradhan said.