Semi-circular broken panels dating back to the 2nd century have been found in the Patigadda area near the Nelakondapalli Buddhist site in Khammam district. The Heritage department has decided to conduct further surveys and excavations to gather more information about the site, which is close to the Buddhist stupa.

The panels came to light during a site inspection by Heritage department director Prof. K. Arjun Rao and deputy director P. Nagaraju, who found limestone pieces shaped like lotus flowers and remnants of terracotta tiles dating back to the 1st and 2nd centuries. They also discovered fragments bearing red and black colours in nearby areas. Farmers have reported finding antiquities while cultivating their fields.

Officials said the newly identified site is located two kilometres from the stupa. Revenue minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy recently laid the foundation stone for development works at the Nelakondapalli Buddhist site. Following this, the Heritage department decided to conduct excavations with a technical and research team to establish the site’s connection with the stupa. Permission from the Archaeological Survey of India will be sought shortly.

The Buddhist stupa at Nelakondapalli is locally known as Viratrajgadde or Erradibba. Earlier excavations at the site revealed a Mahastupa, a monastic complex and several objects, including miniature votive stupas, a bronze icon of Avalokitesvara, Buddha idols, pottery, beads, bangles and coins from the Ikshvaku and Vishnukundini periods. A vihara complex was also unearthed close to the Mahastupa.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, retired deputy director S.S. Rangacharyulu said the recently discovered panel might have been part of a canopy belonging to a larger sculpture or ornamental piece. He recalled that nine sculptures were discovered during excavations in 1977 and placed in different locations, including the State Museum and the Heritage department director’s chamber.

The first minor explorations were conducted in 1975, followed by further excavations in 1977, when the nine sculptures were found. Continuous excavations were carried out between 1984 and 1995.

The stupa underwent conservation work two to three times. However, the vihara complex has only two to three layers and could disappear without proper conservation, Rangacharyulu said, adding that the complex was covered with sand to protect it from damage and was recently exposed again for conservation work.

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