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A professor of ancient history at Mainpuri claimed these were probably from the 1st century AD. Archaeological Survey of India experts agree the statues appear ancient, but put them to likely the 7th century.
It all started when Manoj Yadav of Gwaltoli village in Mainpuri agreed to a sale deed for soil from his fields last month. The man who had agreed to buy the soil began digging operations five days ago. After digging about seven feet deep, labourers struck upon something solid. Once soil around it was dug up, they discovered a seated-Buddha statue that weighed about 100 kg, a little over four feet tall, carved in yellow stone. Smaller statues, of what appeared like Hindu gods and goddesses, were also found.
It all started when Manoj Yadav of Gwaltoli village in Mainpuri agreed to a sale deed for soil from his fields last month. The man who had agreed to buy the soil began digging operations five days ago. After digging about seven feet deep, labourers struck upon something solid. Once soil around it was dug up, they discovered a seated-Buddha statue that weighed about 100 kg, a little over four feet tall, carved in yellow stone. Smaller statues, of what appeared like Hindu gods and goddesses, were also found.
Charitam and Saudaranand. The ruler of the time was impressed by him, and named a village after him, which came to be called 'Ashwawali'. With changes in the dialect over the centuries, the area came to be called Asyoli. There were several Buddha temples in the village, now buried in the sands of time," Rakshpal Singh said, adding that Gwaltoli, being barely a km from Asyoli, could also have had a strong Buddhist past.
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