Members of the ASI team look at relics found during the survey on Thursday. Picture by Lalitesh Mishra

Saharsa, Nov. 6: A three-member team of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), led by conservation officer S.K. Jha, on Thursday visited the Ugratara temple at Mahishi, the Kandaha sun temple, the Nakucha Shiva temple and some antique elevated mounds in the district.

The team aimed to update the current status of these structures and probe their historical background and their archaeological design so that their significance could be established on a national-scale.

According to Jha, the team in course of its survey of these religious and historical places came across several pottery, small statues and terracotta ring well, which appeared to date back to the Gupta or the Pala period, indicating presence of human habitation there at that time.

Yet another well was discovered at Mandan Dhamdih, which it is believed to have existed during the legendary Indian Mimansa philosopher, Mandana Mishra, in the 8th century. As regards the statue of Ugratara’s antiquity, said to be a Buddhist deity and also associated with tantricism, the team members opined it to be of the 10th century.

The team would submit an extensive report to the ASI, which would on the basis of its efficacy, decide over its development as a heritage site.

The state archaeological department had not bothered to survey these historical sites.