Gwalior: In an archaeological discovery, a group of labourers working on a water pipeline project in Gohad town, Madhya Pradesh, unearthed a treasure trove of 113 silver coins from the Mughal era.
The incident took place on Thursday while the workers were digging for Jalavardhan Yojana water project, located near the Kaliyakanth temple in Ward 11, around 40 km from Gwalior.
Details of finding
The moment that led to the discovery took place when one of the workers’ spades struck an earthen pot buried about four feet underground.
Upon striking the pot, the workers heard the unmistakable clink of metal coins, which piqued their curiosity. As they cleared away the earth and pebbles surrounding the pot, they revealed a sealed earthen vessel filled with silver coins.
The coins, which bear inscriptions in Urdu and Persian, are believed to date back to the Mughal era, though experts will need to conduct further analysis to determine their exact origins and historical significance.
As word of the find spread, a crowd gathered around the site. Ramkumar Gurjar, a local resident, took possession of the pot and carried it to his home. According to workers present at the site, the pot was found about four feet deep in the ground, and the discovery halted the digging, as reported by The Times Of India. The landlord instructed the workers to stop their excavation work and leave the site.
The police arrived shortly afterward, questioned the workers, and recovered the pot from Gurjar’s home. It was taken into custody for safekeeping, and authorities began the process of investigating the find.
To assist with further excavation, the authorities brought in a JCB machine to resume digging. However, the search for additional treasure was halted due to fading daylight, and excavation work will resume at a later time.
Historical significance of Gohad town
The site of this discovery is located in Gohad town, which has historical significance due to its proximity to Gohad Fort. The fort, established in 1505 by the Jat Ranas, has witnessed numerous battles throughout the centuries, according to Times Of India reports.
The area around the fort is steeped in history and the finding of the silver coins adds another layer of intrigue to the region’s rich past.
Madhya Pradesh Archaeological Department in Gwalior was notified, and a team would arrive for a more detailed investigation into the find. Experts will examine the coins’ inscriptions and conduct further research to better understand their historical context.
It is believed that this discovery will shed light on the area’s Mughal-era history and possibly reveal more hidden treasures as the excavation continues.
