JAJPUR  January 26th, 2014: An ancient well, a 300-year-old temple and many potteries were unearthed from a field at village Majhipada under Badchana block in Jajpur district on Friday.

“Some workers came across the well, remains of a temple, many potteries and other artifacts while digging earth to build a house on the land of GobardhanBal,” said Dr Harisha Chandra Prusti, a noted historian and Principal of Sahasapur College on Saturday.

The nearby Kaima hillock is also famous for the discovery of more than ten Buddhist caves and a stone image of elephants 25 years back. After the victory of King KapilendraDev in the war, he had established two villages, including  Majhipada, for Brahmins, said Dr Prusti.

Noted researcher Dr KC Panigrahi has also mentioned in his book that this area was the birthplace of Kapinendra Dev. But both the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) and the State Archeological Department have been paying little attention to the small historic sites, for which many images and other archeological findings are gathering dust.

“In many cases, antique lifters have pilfered rare images in these areas,” said Dr Prusti. When contacted, ASI Superintendent AK Patel said, “A team of ASI will soon visit the village to preserve the unearthed objects.”

Villagers were happy over the discovery of the ancient well. “We have been facing water shortage for long and the discovery of the ancient deep well will solve the problem,” said MahendraSarangi, a villager.