Indian villagers find ancient treasure

NEW DELHI: Villagers in northern India have found a treasure trove of copper items including a figurine, coins, a harpoon and rings that could be 4,000 years old, an archaeological official said Wednesday.

“It was an accidental find by the villagers,” said Rakesh Tewari, Uttar Pradesh state’s archaeology chief. Police seized the pieces, which were acquired by the state archaeology department in August, Tewari said.

Tewari estimated the articles could date as far back as 2000 to 1200 BC, saying they appeared similar to or older than objects associated with the late Harappan culture that existed in the Indus valley more than 3,000 years ago. Researchers hope to excavate the site where the objects were found, Tewari said. afp

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