[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989) › v1.c17.s8.10 # An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c17.s8.10 An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c17.s8.10 - **Language:** English ### [v1.c17.s8.10](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c17.s8.10) The nucleus of the greatly denuded Mahā-caitya at AMARAVATI was most probably as old as the 3rd century B.C., though it underwent additions and embellishments till the 2nd-3rd century A.D. While digging the \*stūpa\* for securing building materials, the local zemindar found a stone box containing a crystal casket, inside which were a small pearl and some small leaves of gold (Rea, 1894). The excavation conducted at the \*stūpa\* in 1958-9 yielded five crystal caskets in the slots of two stones within the core of the southern \*āyaka\* (\*c\*. 2nd century A.D.) of the \*stūpa\*. Four of these caskets are \*stūpa\*-shaped, while the fifth is somewhat cylindrical. The caskets yielded bones, beads, pearls, semiprecious stones and gold flowers. Within the precincts of the \*stūpa\* was found a gold casket with six gold flowers and a piece of bone inside an earthen vessel. - [Previous: v1.c17.s8.9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c17.s8.9) - [Next: v1.c17.s8.11](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c17.s8.11) - [Up: v1.c17.s8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c17.s8) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c17.s8.10](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c17.s8.10) · Pramāṇa