Neolithic relics found during excavation at Lakkundi

A broken piece of gray clay pot believed to be of Neolithic (New Stone Age) period and a stone pedestal with a carving of a Jina have been found during excavation at Kote Veerabhadraswamy Temple in Lakkundi village of Gadag district.

Member of the Lakkundi Heritage Area Development Authority Siddu Patil has said that along with the half portion of a broken clay pot, they also found two-three cowrie shells (kavade) at the site.

According to the authorities at the excavation site, the workers have dug up to a depth of 5 ft. As many as 34 workers are involved in the excavation being supervised by Archaeological Survey of India officials.

The excavation work on the Kote Veerabhadreshwar Temple premises in Lakkundi was initiated on January 16 and workers are carrying out excavation carefully since then.

Meanwhile, the officials are approaching residents in houses built utilising a portion of the temple and are requesting them to part with their houses for restoration work.

On Tuesday, head of the Chowkimath family Sharanayya Chowkimath said that they are ready to shift if the government provides them with alternative land and house.

On Monday, a cross shaped pedestal and a stone axe, reportedly of Neolithic period, were found during excavation.