Jajpur: A Shivling and a few ancient sculptures were unearthed from Baitarani riverbed at Devigada Ghat in Jajpur district Thursday afternoon.
An ancient Shivling and remains of a temple had surfaced from River Baitarani near Dasarathpur in the district a few days ago as well.
According to a source, the Shivling and other remnants of an ancient temple were found during lifting of sand from the riverbed by excavators engaged at a work site here.
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A Shivling, a Nandi and an idol of goddess Lakshmi made from black marble stones have been unraveled.
On the other hand, locals have demanded the State government’s intervention for restoring those rare artefacts. The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) is in a deep slumber, some locals fumed.
“Jajpur is an ancient place and there are thousands of ancient sculptures and artifacts scattered all around the Baitarini riverbank and riverbed. The ASI does not care to excavate those,” a local villager Samarjit Mohanty said.
“ASI does not even bother to come here and take stock of these remains which speaks volumes of their apathy,” Mohanty added.
These idols belong to the Bhouma-Kar dynasty between 8th and 10th Century, some local villagers stated.
However, some intelligentsia put it differently saying that the sculptures date back to Soma Dynasty between 9th and 12th Century.
PNN
