Temple artefacts dating back to the 9th-12th century discovered during a survey of Ratnachira valley in Odisha

Bhubaneswar : A treasure trove of old temple images dating back to the 9th to 12th century CE was discovered in Laudanki village near Satasankha on the Bhubaneswar-Puri road.
A six-member team from the “Rediscover Lost Heritage” group during a survey of the Ratnachira Valley, have discovered these images while inspecting the precincts of the ancient Ghateswar temple in the village.
According to Historian Anil Dhir, the assortment of nearly two dozen artefacts was discovered beneath a big garbage heap on the rear of the temple kitchen.
The team had earlier discovered surface remains of an ancient temple strewn around the complex which consisted of carved stone blocks.
The villagers said many old images were recovered during the restoration of the temple by the State Archaeology Department in 1999. These images were to be taken to the State Museum but the place was inundated during the Super Cyclone in 1999, and the entire lot was buried under vegetation and branches of uprooted trees.
Since then the recovered images have been lying buried in the garbage heap for the last two decades.
According to Chief Co-ordinator of the RLH group Deepak Kumar Nayak who is heading the Ratnachira project, the identified images include a three feet Kartikeya image in Mayurasana, a two feet Ganesh in Ardhaparyanka, a two feet Mahisamardini image, a seven hooded serpent image of Manasa besides an assortment of temple panels with intricate carvings of Alasyakanyas, Brushavas and Nara Vidalas.
A small brass mask of Lord Shiva too was found. The antiquities, except the brass mask, could be dated to a period between the 9th to 12th Century C.E. The artefacts have been kept inside the temple and the authorities have been informed.
Mr Dhir said like the Prachi Valley, the Ratnachira Valley too is a treasure house of many archaeological wonders, most of them being obscure and unknown as they have not been documented.
Like the Prachi, the mythical Ratnachira too is in its death throes. Legend has it that Lord Rama had drawn the river to quench Sita’s thirst, using her pearl ring to chart its course.
The ancient river, which now runs dry for most of the year, has many myths and legends with flourishing heritage on both sides of its short stretch.
Mr Dhir has appealed to the state government to conduct a proper survey of the temple complex and also the entire 60 km Ratnachira valley and the monuments found from the site be documented.