Rare discovery at ancient Anuradhapura site is believed to date back 1,200 to 1,300 years.
Image: Nukta
Sri Lankan archaeologists have unearthed 17 gold-plated Buddha statues during excavations at the historic Abhayagiri temple complex in Anuradhapura.
The statues were discovered buried within a rampart at the UNESCO World Heritage site, which was once part of an important Buddhist monastic centre in Sri Lanka’s ancient capital.
Officials said the bronze statues, covered in gold, appear to date from around the seventh or eighth centuries and represent the most significant archaeological discovery in the protected area in more than three decades.
The artefacts have been sent for further testing, while authorities hope to put the statues on public display within about a month. The discovery adds to evidence of Anuradhapura’s importance as a major centre of Buddhist learning and culture for centuries.
