Ayodhya: Five pieces of small articles were on March 20 recovered during the excavation at the acquired land in Ayodhya, which resumed after a recess of two days on account of Holi festival.

One small copper coin and a copper talisman ('tabeez') were found in K-7 trench and a piece of black stone was found in K-8 trench, sources said.

A small piece of broken terracotta was also found in the trench and these articles have been kept in sealed cover.

However, there was no immediate information about the archaeological importance of these articles, they said.

About three feet deep digging was done in the sixth, seventh and eighth trenches, they said, adding two feet digging was done in K-4 trench.

While a U-shaped earthen stove ('chulah') was found in K-3 trench. Three U-shaped earthen stoves were found in the same trench two days ago, sources said.

It was stated that the stove could be a part of the mass kitchen run by the Ramanandi sect in the North side of the Ram Chabutra inside the outer cordon, before the demolition of the disputed structure in 1992, the sources said.

Meanwhile, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) team is understood to have completed survey mapping of newly built concrete platform. The mapping left incomplete after the demolition of the disputed structure on December 6, 1992.

No digging of the area took place till the order of the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court.

About 52 labourers including nine belonging to the Muslim community were deployed for the excavation work, sources said, adding three experts, engaged by the contesting parties belonging to the Muslim community were present in the acquired land's where the excavation took place on March 20.

The situation in the temple town was normal, where 'darshan' and 'puja' by visiting devotees continued as usual. PTI