17 Gilded Buddha Statues Unearthed in Sri Lanka's Ancient City

A rare archaeological discovery has been made in Sri Lanka with the unearthing of 17 gilded bronze Buddha statues at the Abhayagiri Vihara temple complex in Anuradhapura, the island's ancient capital. The statues, believed to be between 1,200 and 1,300 years old, were found buried haphazardly within the sacred city. Thusitha Herath, project director for the government's Central Cultural Fund, described the find as the most significant in the protected archaeological zone in more than 30 years.

"We have found artifacts before, but this is the first time we have found so many statues," Herath told AFP from the excavation site. The statues, exhibiting features consistent with artifacts from the 7th to 8th centuries, were sent for further research. Officials anticipate they could be publicly displayed in about a month.

Anuradhapura, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1982, has a rich history of diverse Buddhist traditions, including Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana, attracting scholars and pilgrims from China and India centuries ago. The Central Cultural Fund has been conducting excavations in the area since it gained international recognition, underscoring the shared responsibility for its preservation.

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We have found artifacts before, but this is the first time we have found so many statues.