Pune: Skeletal remains belonging to Peshwa era found at Mandai Metro site

Animal skeletal remains dating back to the Peshwa-era were discovered by the workers digging at the Pune Metro site near Mandai on Wednesday. While the remains belong to an elephant and some bovine animals, these were not ancient but between 200 and 300 years old, experts said as reported by the Indian Express.

Workers, who were digging at the Mahatma Phule MandaiMetro site, stumbled upon some bones, which they carefully removed and alerted experts at Deccan College Post Graduate Research Institute.

A four-member team from the archaeology department visited the site on Thursday and the preliminary examination revealed that the bones are of mammals, which could have been buried between 200 and 300 years ago.

“The bones were found at a depth of about 10 feet. One bone was identified as the lower limb of an elephant,” said Sachin Joshi, an archaeo-chemist from Deccan College, who led the inspection team.

According to the report in the publication, Experts linked the bones to the Peshwa era. Local historians trace back the presence of a ‘Hatti Mahal’, which literally translates to Palace of Elephants, located in the vicinity of the present-day site suggesting that elephants were commonly found in the locality.

“Back in those days, areas around Mandai were not thickly populated and, hence, could have been used for burials,” said Joshi, adding that the area around the site must be scientifically excavated and bone samples studied in detail.