BHOPAL: The clink of a labourer’s spade led to the stunning discovery of a Mughal era pot of treasure in MP’s Bhind district on Thursday.
Labourers were digging for a water pipeline project in Gohad town, around 40km from Gwalior, when they found the earthen pot containing 113 silver coins. Archaeologists are examining the coins that have Urdu and Persian inscriptions.
The house where the pot was found has been in the same family for generations. ‘Jalavardhan Yojana’ work was on near Kaliyakanth temple in Ward 11 of the town when a shovel struck an earthen pot. Intrigued, workers gathered at the spot and removed pebbles and earth to find a sealed pot.
When they lifted it above ground, it had the unmistakable jangle, and sure enough, there were handfuls of silver coins.
As news spread, a crowd gathered at the site. Local resident Ramkumar Gurjar took the pot of coins home. One of the workers told local media that the pot was found about four feet underground, and that the landlord immediately ordered them to stop digging and leave.
Officials arrived, questioned the workers and recovered the pot of coins from Gurjar’s house. Police took custody of the precious find.
Authorities then called in a JCB to assist with further excavation. Digging resumed in the evening in the hope of finding more such pots, but work was halted due to fading light.
A team from the archaeological department in Gwalior is expected to arrive on Friday afternoon to conduct a detailed investigation.
Gohad town has grown around the fort by the same name, the site of many a battle over the centuries. Gohad State, and the fort, were established in 1505 by the Jat Ranas.