MU archaeologists' team unearth ancient relics

A team of archaeologists from the University of Mumbai has recently discovered a set of relics in Mumbai as part of the ongoing season of their salcette exploration project.

Under the project, which is an initiative of the Centre for Extra Mural studies (CEMS) at the University of Mumbai and Sathaye College, students and faculty members have discovered a wide range of relics across the city including a rock-cut grotto cave in Gundavli, Jogeshwari, scattered remnants of Buddhist stupas at the ancient Buddhist monastery of Vihar, and a 300-year-old Dargah in Dharavi.

"We are happy that our team has identified some remnants of very old structures while on an exploration across the city. Some of these relics are over 300 years old. We are in the process of documenting these findings and would submit the same to the Archaeological Society of India and State Department of Archaeology, " said Mugdha Karnik, Head, Centre for Extra-Mural Studies, University of Mumbai.

The centre, divided into five teams, with dedicated areas in the city has now started recording these discoveries. "The project was undertaken to find the relics that already exist but are hidden in the new narrative of this city," said Kurush Dalal, Deputy Director of CEM, who is part of the study.

The team has also found some more rock cut caves in the city but is yet to identify and document them. "The second leg of the project is still on and will continue as we discover things one by one," said Karnik.