Buddhist Excavation Near Bengaluru Faces Land Acquisition Hurdle

Archaeologists found a very old Buddhist place at Rajaghatta, a village near the city of Bengaluru in India.

The bricks there are from the first and second century, making them about 1,800 to 1,900 years old.

A farmer owns part of the land where the discovery was made.

He says he will give up his land only if the government pays him the full market price.

The government wants to dig more to uncover a hidden worship hall called a Chaityalaya.

To do that, officials need about four more acres of land next to the site.

Buying that land takes a very long time.

A Buddhist group called the Maha Bodhi Society wants everyone to visit the site right away as an open-air exhibition.

The archaeology department instead wants to cover the site with sheets so rain and people do not damage the fragile ruins.

Everyone agrees that the old Buddhist site is special and should be protected.