MGNREGA workers in Kerala’s Chengalayi village in Kannur on July 13 found a pot while digging pits for rainwater harvesting, The Indian Express reported. The workers first assume the pot contained a crude bomb, due to several incidents of abandoned articles exploding on being opened, and threw it away. However, on breaking the pot revealed old coins and gold and silver ornaments.
The collection was handed over to local panchayat authorities, who informed the archaeology department about the findings.
Earlier on Wednesday, the state archeology department said that upon examination it was revealed that the items hold archeological value. State Archaeology Department Director E Dineshan stated that the latest coin in the collection dates back to 1826, suggesting that they were likely buried approximately two centuries ago.
Golden lockets, gold coins
The pot which the workers found contained 13 golden lockets, 17 studs, five lockets, five rings and a bunch of coins, all of them either gold or silver, IE reported.
The director noted that another set of coins falls under the category of Venetian ducats, believed to have been minted in Venice. These ducats date between 1670 and 1700 and were formed into a chain and worn as jewellery. Additionally, he mentioned that the collection also includes coins from French India and those used during the reign of the Ali Raja of the Arakkal dynasty, a Muslim ruler of the Kannur region from the 16th to the 19th century.
