The ancient Indian skeleton receives a museum home six years after excavations

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Roxy Gagdekar Chhara

BBC Gujarati, Vadnagar

The right hand of the skeleton rests on his lap and his left hand lies in the air as if resting on a stick

Kushal Batung/BBC photo of a sitting skeleton inside a shift shed that shows his right hand resting on his lap, and his left hand is hung in the air as if resting on a stick — The right hand of the skeleton rests on his lap and his left hand lies in the air as if resting on a stick

A 1000-year-old human skeleton, who was buried, sat with his legs crossed in India, was moved to a museum six years after he was excavated.

BBC reported earlier this month That the skeleton was left in an unprotected tarpaulin shelter near the site of excavations in the state of West Gujarat since 2019 due to bureaucratic disputes.

On Thursday, the skeleton was moved to a local museum, just a few miles from where it was discovered.

Authorities say it will be exposed to the public after the administrative procedures are completed.

The skeleton is transported from the shed to the museum

A photo of a crane lifting the skeleton from the site in the western State Gujarat, India. — The skeleton is transported from the shed to the museum

Mahendra Surela, a curator of the archaeological experience of experience in Vadagar, where the skeleton has already been displaced, he told the BBC that the skeleton was transported with “exceptional care” and under the supervision of several experts.

He added that employees of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) – the agency responsible for the protection of archaeological research – will look at the skeleton before deciding where and how the skeleton in the museum should be displayed.

It is currently placed until the intake and is surrounded by a protective barrier.

“We probably move it to the second floor, where a picture of the skeleton has already been placed,” said Surela.

Archaeologist Abhigit Ambacar, who discovered the skeleton, said he was happy that a significant find was to attract the attention he deserves.

Ambekar told the BBC earlier that the skeleton is a rare discovery, as such remains were found at only three other sites in India.

Officials stand by the skeleton at the museum

Roxy Gagdekar Chhara/BBC Photo of employees standing on both sides of the skeleton inside the museum, where it will now find a home. — Officials stand by the skeleton at the museum

But as the employees argued who should take responsibility for the skeleton, he remained in a tent for a change near the place of excavations, unprotected by the guards and exposed to natural elements.

Experts say the skeleton probably belongs to Solanki period. The Solanki Dynasty, also known as the Chauluki Dynasty, operated parts of the modern Gujarat between 940 and 1300 BC.

The skeleton had been able to survive at the course of time, as the soil around it remained unsettled and showed characteristics that help preserved.

Ambacar said that the remains could shed light on the samadhi funeral phenomenon – an ancient funeral practice among the Hindus, where worshiped figures are buried, not cremated.

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