Tue Mar 04 08:18:32 UTC 2025: ## Odisha Unearths Massive Buddha Head, Revealing Lost Buddhist Heritage
**Bhubaneswar, Odisha – March 4, 2025** – Archaeologists in Odisha have made a stunning discovery at the Ratnagiri Buddhist site in Jajpur district. An excavation, the first in six decades, has unearthed a massive, intact Buddha head, lying face down, along with numerous other artifacts that significantly expand understanding of the region’s rich Buddhist past.
The unearthed head is believed to be part of a large meditating Buddha statue, with other stone carvings including palms and fingers discovered nearby. In addition to the monumental Buddha head, the excavation yielded three more sculpted heads of varying sizes, a monolithic elephant sculpture, and hundreds of votive stupas, ranging in complexity from simple to highly ornate.
The site also revealed numerous small stone carvings depicting divinities, arranged in a manner consistent with Vajrayana Buddhist practices. The abundance of votive offerings suggests the site was a significant pilgrimage destination. Further reinforcing the site’s importance as a Vajrayana Buddhist center, archaeologists discovered inscribed stone tablets in Sanskrit using the Kutila script, along with a large collection of fine grey ware ceramics.
The excavation, which is expected to continue until the end of March, has already provided significant insights into the scale and influence of Buddhism in the region. Further analysis will be conducted to determine if the discovered Buddha head is the largest ever found in India. The discovery is being hailed as a major breakthrough in understanding India’s Buddhist history.
First Piper 