Karnataka teenager finds over 1 kg of 100-year-old gold and copper jewellery while digging at home, hands items to govt

A 14-year-old boy in Gadag district became an instant hero after discovering a trove of gold and copper ornaments while digging to build a house with his mother, a TOI report stated. Prajwal Basavaraj Ritti, a Class 8 student, found the treasure on Saturday in Lakkundi, a village once ruled by the Rashtrakutas and Chalukyas.

Instead of keeping it, Prajwal stored the items safely at home and later handed them over to the Gadag district administration, earning praise from the government and locals alike. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, "The boy's honesty is greater than any treasure."

Government promises support and reward

Senior Minister HK Patil, overseeing Gadag, met the Ritti family on Tuesday and said, "Govt will provide support to the Ritti family, which deserves honour. We'll announce the details after discussing it in the cabinet meeting." The government is considering giving the family 20% of the treasure's value as compensation.

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Gangavva Ritti, Prajwal's mother, told officials that they did not want the treasure but requested permission to continue construction on their land. She also sought financial help and a government job for her son.

How the treasure was found

The Rittis had started digging on a 640 sq ft plot of family land to build a home. Around five feet deep, a pickaxe struck metal, revealing a pot filled with gold ornaments that gleamed in the sunlight. Alongside were copper items and pieces with rare stones.

Prajwal uncovered 466 grams of gold ornaments and 634 grams of copper artifacts. After consulting his mother, he handed over the entire collection to the authorities. Additional antique items were later traced by local collector Basappa Badiger and submitted to the government.

Historical significance of Lakkundi

Lakkundi is a historic village of about 20,000 people, located 12 km from Gadag and 75 km from Hubballi. Floriculture is the main occupation. The village has a rich history, with more than 1,100 antiquities handed over to the government under the Lakkundi antiquities collection programme, showcasing its culture and heritage.

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Treasure details and controversy

The collection includes 22 pieces of jewellery, such as bracelets, rings, bangles, and a heavy necklace. Pearls, coral, sapphire, crystal, white coral, and black stones were also found. Officials say the items are over 100 years old. Details of the copper artifacts have not been released.

The discovery sparked debate after ASI official Ramesh Mulimani suggested the jewellery should stay with the family, leading to demands from relatives. Deputy director R Shejeshwar clarified, "If any item — regardless of value — is found under ground, it should be treated as treasure as per Karnataka's ancient and historical monuments and archaeological sites and remains rules, 1962." Mulimani later apologised for his comment.

(Source: TOI)