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Rare Stone Shiva Statue Dating Back To 6th Century Accidentally Discovered In Kashmir

One of the oldest Buddhist sites is also located there.
File photo of Indian Hindu devotees offering prayers to a Shiva Lingam, a stone sculpture representing the phallus of Hindu god Lord Shiva, to mark the Maha Shivaratri festival at the Shiva Mandir in Siliguri on February 24, 2017.
DIPTENDU DUTTA via Getty Images
File photo of Indian Hindu devotees offering prayers to a Shiva Lingam, a stone sculpture representing the phallus of Hindu god Lord Shiva, to mark the Maha Shivaratri festival at the Shiva Mandir in Siliguri on February 24, 2017.

SRINAGAR, Kashmir -- Workers dredging a water reservoir stumbled upon a rare one-faced stone sculpture of Lord Shiva dating back to the 6th century CE in Harwan area in the outskirts of the city, an official said today.

The oval-shaped bust is nearly 2.5 feet in height. It has been handed over to the Department of Archives and Archaeology by the police.

Mohammad Shafi Zahid, the director of the Archaeology Department, said this was the first time that such a sculpture was discovered in Kashmir.

"It is a one-faced sculpture of Shiva of around 6th century CE," he said.

Harwan area is a known heritage site and has archaeological importance. One of the oldest Buddhist sites is also located there.

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.