Ancient Goddess Durga sculpture discovered in J&K, experts deem it over 1200 year old

We often hear about scientists conducting digs and excavations, and discovering ancient artifacts which are many centuries old. Another such artifact has recently been recovered from the state of Jammu and Kashmir, by a group of common folk working by the river.

An ancient sculpture of Goddess Durga has been recovered in Jammu and Kashmir in the Jhelum river. The ancient sculpture was discovered by a group of labourers who were extracting sand from the Jhelum river. According to experts, the sculpture is around 1200 years old.

After the sculpture was recovered by the labourers, it was handed over to the Budgam police in the Khansahib area. According to the police, the sculpture is 12 by 8 inches in size and is carved in a black stone. The small sculpture is of Goddess Durga, who is sitting on a lion throne along with four attendants.

In an official statement, the police said, “During the examination, it was revealed that the recovered sculpture dated back to roughly 7th-8th AD (about 1,200 years). The sculpture is 12"x8" in size, carved in a black stone with goddess Durga seated on a lion throne along with four attendants.”

After the sculpture was turned in to the police, they decided to hand it over to the archeology department for a detailed examination. The sculpture was handed over by SSP Budgam Tahir Saleem Khan to Mushtaq Ahmad Beigh, Deputy Director of the Department of Archives, Archaeology, and Museums. 

According to the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums, Jammu and Kashmir, the sculpture of Goddess Durga dates back to the 7^th or 8^th AD which makes it about 1200 years old, deeming it an important ancient artifact.

According to the statements of the police, the sculpture was first retrieved on August 13, 2021, by workers who were extracting sand from the River Jehlum at the Pandthrethan area of Srinagar.