Hyderabad: Archaeologists on Wednesday unearthed coins and a crystal conearium rod which was used by women for applying vermillion on their forehead dating back to 1st century to 3rd century AD. The findings are part of the ongoing excavations in Pajjuru, Nalgonda district. Other items excavated include a lead coin, a copper coin, a terracotta bead and a bangle fashioned from shells. Of special interest is the square-shaped lead coin – embossed with a figure of a horse. The archaeologists estimate the item dates back to the Mahatalavara dynasty.
“The Talavara coins are from Telangana region. Mahatalavaras ruled the territories in Andhra Desa prior to the Satavahanas or during the post-Satavahana times. The symbol of a horse on the obverse is an unidentified symbol. For all intents and purposes, Mahatalavara is the title given to a chief or head Mahatala or the one who was in charge of revenue collection — besides law and order of a particular territory,” P. Nagaraju, Assistant Director, Department of Archaeology and Museums (Nalgon-da/Mahbubnagar), told Deccan Chronicle on Wednesday.
N.R. Visalatchy, director, Department of Archaeology and Museums, is overseeing the work in Nalgonda district, which has become a hub for archaeological excavations in the State. “The copper coin has rust and needs chemical cleaning. The other coins will also be cleaned,” he explained. Bhanumurthy, a senior archaeologist, said Mahatalavaras ruled the region from 1st century to 3rd century, pre and post-Satavahanas.
