Sat Feb 22 13:01:27 UTC 2025: **Largest Buddha Head Unearthed in Odisha’s Ratnagiri**

**Bhubaneswar, Odisha – February 22, 2025** – Archaeologists in Odisha have unearthed a 1.4-meter-tall Buddha head at the Ratnagiri Buddhist heritage site, the largest ever discovered in the state. The discovery, made in December 2024, is part of an ongoing excavation at the 18-acre site in Jajpur district. The excavation, which resumed after a six-decade hiatus, is expected to continue until the end of March, weather permitting.

The massive head, along with two smaller Buddha heads, fragments of a large meditating Buddha statue, and numerous other artifacts, were discovered beneath the surface. The artifacts include hundreds of votive stupas, stone carvings of Buddhist deities (such as Amoghasiddhi, Ratnasambhava, and Tara), and inscribed stone tablets. The finds point towards Ratnagiri’s importance as a major Vajrayana (Tantric) Buddhist center flourishing from the 5th to the 13th centuries AD.

The excavation team, led by Superintending Archaeologist Dibishada Brajasundar Garnayak, also unearthed brick and stone structures, suggesting a substantial monastic complex. The discovery has attracted significant interest from academics, including scholars from Egypt and India.

While the excavation has yielded invaluable insights into Odisha’s Buddhist history, it has also highlighted challenges. The site’s proximity to modern habitation has led to the unintentional repurposing of some artifacts by villagers. The team is appealing for the return of these items for preservation and study. Concerns have also been raised regarding the need for relocation of villagers residing on the site to allow for further exploration. The team is also conducting a broader site catchment analysis to understand the support systems that sustained the large Buddhist community once present at Ratnagiri.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) plans further studies to analyze the artifacts and gain a deeper understanding of the site’s history and significance. Experts are calling for a more integrated approach to studying Ratnagiri, along with the nearby Udayagiri and Lalitgiri sites, to fully appreciate the region’s rich Buddhist heritage.

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