Historic Indian skeleton will get a museum residence six years after excavation

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Roxy Gagdekar Chhara

BBC Gujarati, Vadnagar

The skeleton’s proper arm rests on its lap and its left arm lies suspended within the air, as if resting on a stick

Kushal Batunge/BBC A photo of the seated skeleton inside a make-shift shed which shows its right arm resting on its lap and its left arm suspended in the air, as if resting on a stick — The skeleton’s proper arm rests on its lap and its left arm lies suspended within the air, as if resting on a stick

A 1,000 year-old human skeleton which was buried sitting cross-legged in India has been moved to a museum six years after it was excavated.

The BBC had reported earlier this month that the skeleton had been left inside an unprotected tarpaulin shelter near the excavation website in western Gujarat state since 2019 due to bureaucratic wrangling.

On Thursday, the skeleton was shifted to a neighborhood museum, only a few miles away from the place it was unearthed.

Authorities say that it will likely be positioned on show for the general public after administrative procedures are accomplished.

The skeleton being transported from the shed to the museum

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

Mahendra Surela, curator of the Archaeological Experiential Museum in Vadnagar the place the skeleton has now been shifted, informed the BBC that the skeleton was transported with “utmost care” and underneath the supervision of a number of consultants.

He added that officers of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) – the company accountable for preservation of archaeological analysis – will study the skeleton earlier than taking a call on the place and the way the skeleton ought to be displayed within the museum.

It’s at present positioned subsequent to the reception and is fenced in by a protecting barrier.

“It’s doubtless that we could shift it to the second flooring, the place {a photograph} of the skeleton is already positioned,” Mr Surela mentioned.

Archaeologist Abhijit Ambekar, who found the skeleton, mentioned that he was completely happy that the numerous discover was getting the eye it deserved.

Ambekar had earlier informed the BBC that the skeleton was a uncommon discovery as related stays had been discovered at solely three different websites in India.

Officers stand subsequent to the skeleton within the museum

Roxy Gagdekar Chhara/BBC A photo of officials standing on either side of the skeleton inside the museum where it will now find a home. — Officers stand subsequent to the skeleton within the museum

However as officers argued over who ought to take cost of the skeleton, it remained in a make-shift tent near the excavation website, unprotected by safety guards and uncovered to pure parts.

Consultants say that the skeleton doubtless belongs to the Solanki interval. The Solanki dynasty, often known as the Chaulukya dynasty, dominated over components of modern-day Gujarat between 940 to 1300 CE.

The skeleton had managed to outlive the passage of time as a result of the soil round it had remained undisturbed and displayed traits that aided preservation.

Mr Ambekar mentioned that the stays might make clear the phenomenon of “samadhi burials” – an historic burial apply amongst Hindus the place revered figures had been buried relatively than cremated.