An ancient well, potteries and other artefacts at Uttarasasan village. Pictures by Sanjib Mukherjee

Jajpur, March 11: Locals are thronging Uttarasasan village under Dharmasala block of Jajpur district to have a glimpse of an ancient well, potteries and other artefacts, which were unearthed this week.

“The artefacts including a well and potteries recovered from Uttarasasan are rare kinds and they are about 600-years-old. The artefacts found here are believed to belong to the time when Suryavansi kings ruled Orissa from 1435 to 1534 A.D,” said Nrusingha Charana Sahu, a researcher.

“This area was believed to be the birthplace of King Kapilendra Dev as a Kapileswar temple exists there. After Kapilendra Dev won a battle, he established Kapileswarpur — a village for Brahmins,” said the researcher.

The discovered well was covered with the remains of paddy and husk, Sahu said.

“In the past, villagers often used abandoned wells to store grains,” he said.

The unearthed potteries and artefacts are not only historically significant but also reveals the artistic excellence and iconographic know-how of the era.

Uttarsasan village is situated close to the famous Buddhist sites on Langudi hills, where the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has unearthed several statues of Lord Buddha, ancient potteries and other artefacts.

The 600-year-old rare artefacts were found on Monday while digging an agricultural field.

“We have been digging the field to make bricks for the last three weeks. On Monday, we came across a 12feet deep well, several potteries and other artefacts while digging earth,” said one of the labourers, Dibakar Behera.

The labourers immediately brought the incident to the notice of the landowner. When the news spread, local people started thronging the site to have a glimpse of the artefacts.

“I was not aware that such historical artefacts were lying under the earth. When these artefacts were found, I was surprised. I will consult competent authorities as to do now,” said Bidyadhar Sarangi, the landowner.

“I have stopped digging work at the site,” he added.