A large number of antique coins were discovered in Charaideo district of eastern Assam when locals were digging a pond in the district on Saturday.
The coins are believed to be from the 300-year-old Ahom dynasty.
A report quoting deputy commissioner of Charaideo, Dipak Kumar Handique stated that the antique coins were dug out during the excavation of the pond by the job card holders of Naharpukhuri Panchayat, which is one of the beneficiaries of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
However, the deputy commissioner lamented that the district administration could only retrieve 16 coins as most of them were taken away by the labourers as personal mementos.
The report also stated that an urn full of coins from Ahom and Mughal period were also discovered and the collected coins have been sent to the archaeological department of examination.
The Ahom dynasty which ruled the Ahom Kingdom comprising main Assam ruled the region for roughly 600 years (1228-1826).
The dynasty was founded by Chaolung Sukaphaa, a Shan prince of Mo Mao who came to the region crossing the Patkai mountains.