Copper coins, temple remains 1,000 yrs old found near Khetri

Jaipur: State's department of archaeology and museology (DAM) Tuesday announced unearthing of copper coins believed to date back to the Chauhan and early Sultunate periods at Tyonda village in Khetri tehsil of Jhunjhunu district, along with structural remains of a temple estimated to be more than 1,000 years old.The discoveries were made during an excavation launched in Jan. Officials said the coins were recovered from the same zone where the temple remains were found, pointing to a possible link between religious and economic activity in the area. Neeraj Tripathi, superintendent, Jaipur Circle, DAM, said, "During the sifting of sand at the excavation site, coins were found buried deep beneath the surface." The coins are in a corroded and fragile condition and will undergo a conservation process before identification. Former numismatics at DAM Zafarullah Khan said the process includes mechanical cleaning, followed by controlled chemical treatment to stabilise the metal surface. In some cases, electrochemical methods are used to carefully strip corrosion layers without damaging inscriptions. "The coins are in a deteriorated state, and scientific cleaning is essential to retrieve inscriptions or motifs. Only after this process will we be able to conclusively identify their origin and chronology," the official said. Chandra Shekhar Sharma, HOD, History (Medieval), Meera Girls College in Udaipur, said that between the 10th and 11th centuries, the region was part of a busy trade network under Rajput rulers like the Chauhans. The excavation work has now been completed for this phase, and the next round is expected to begin in Sept, officials said.