Indian archaeologists discover 2,500-year-old temple destroyed in epic flood

The city of Raipur, in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh, is an old city by any standards, dating back to the 9th century. That said, a temple discovered by Indian archaeologists in the region could make it much, much older — 2,500 years old, to be precise, the India Times reports. Indications, then, seem to place the temple as belonging to the Maurya Empire, one of the largest and most populous dynasties of antiquity.

The north-facing Raipur temple is about 32 feet by 30 feet and once boasted a large central hall with walls constructed of large rocks. Idols of the goddesses Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati, belonging to the Hindu religion, were found at shrines inside. Fifteen homes fanned out in the area in front of the temple. The temple didn't survive the 12th century, however — it was destroyed by enormous flash floods in the region.

The Archaeological Survey of India, who made the discovery, is riding the wave of a great week — earlier, in Tamil Nadu's Sivanaga district, researchers discovered a massive settlement dating back a possible 3,000 years, and stocked with Roman wares, evidencing trade between the empires.

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