Archaeological Excavation At Phanigiri In Telangana Yields Trove of Ancient Coins From Third-Fourth Century CE

Officials from the Department of Archaeology and Museums have made a significant discovery at the Phanigiri Buddhist site in Suryapet district in Telangana.

Led by N Sagar, the excavation director, and B Mallu, the co-excavator, the team unearthed a coin hoard on 29 March as per a report by The Hindu.

They found an earthen pot, measuring 16.7 cm in diameter and 15 cm in height, buried at a depth of two feet. Inside the pot, they discovered 3,730 lead coins, each featuring an elephant symbol on one side and the Ujjain symbol on the other.

The coins are believed to belong to the Ikshvaku period, dating between the third and fourth centuries CE.

In addition to the coins, the archaeologists found stone beads, glass beads, shell bangle fragments, stucco motifs, broken limestone sculptures, a wheel from a toy cart, final nails, and pottery.

Phanigiri is an important Buddhist site that has recently gained recognition, with many of its excavated artefacts now being showcased around the world, including at the New York Met Museum.