Indian Village Finds 900-Year-Old Gold Buried at Home

When Gangavva Basavaraj Ritti started digging foundations for a new house in Lakkundi village, she never expected to unearth a 900-year-old time capsule.

Inside a buried copper vessel lay nearly 470 grams of gold ornaments, hidden there by families who lived in the bustling town during the 11th or 12th century. The discovery sparked immediate excitement, with locals wondering if they'd found ancient treasure.

But archaeologists quickly explained the beautiful truth. These weren't royal jewels or ceremonial artifacts. They were everyday household jewelry, carefully hidden by ordinary families who had no locks or vaults to protect their wealth.

"In earlier centuries, families often buried their valuables near kitchens or hearths to keep them safe from theft," explained Ramesh Mulimani, Archaeological Department Superintendent for the Dharwad Circle. The simple designs and practical nature of the ornaments confirm they belonged to common residents, not elites.

Lakkundi was once a thriving economic and cultural hub under the Chalukya dynasty. Today, the village in Gadag district is known for its stunning Hindu and Jain temples, ancient stepwells, and stone inscriptions that tell stories of its prosperous past.

More than 150 archaeological sites have been discovered in the area over the years. Each find adds another piece to the puzzle of how people actually lived nearly a millennium ago.

Why This Inspires

This discovery does something rare. It connects us directly to the everyday worries and solutions of people who lived 900 years ago.

They faced the same challenge we do: how to keep their valuables safe. Without modern security, they got creative, tucking their precious gold beneath the ground where they cooked their meals and raised their families.

The family who made the discovery has asked the government either to return the ornaments or provide compensation, arguing the jewelry likely belonged to their ancestors. For now, the gold remains in government custody while experts complete their assessment.

State Archaeology Department expert Smita Reddy will soon visit the site to confirm the exact period of the ornaments. Whether the family gets their ancestral gold back or not, they've given us all something priceless: a window into how our ancestors lived, loved, and protected what mattered most to them.