Assistant Professor Dr Ganesh Nandi and researcher Dr Binoy Paul say they have discovered some 1,500-year-old, 8th-century Hindu and Buddhist-influenced sculptures at a hill area near the Assam-Mizoram border.
They said they traveled almost a whole night through the forests from Assam's Hailakandi district, crossing the Assam-Mizoram state border, to reach their destination. Meanwhile, most of the locals in that area belong to the Reang Tribes, and they worship Hindu gods.
Dr Nandi told Indian media that they found only one large size idol, which looks like Lord Buddha (with the dress and style) but seems like a female structure.
"We cannot be sure if it is a Buddha or a Hindu deity, but the art form has similarities with the Buddha idols found in Cambodia," he said. The professor also photographed the structures and documented them for reference.
Paul and Nandi said that although ASI has surveyed the area in the past, there is a high chance of missing these structures as villagers consider them sacred and cover them with leaves.
Following the professor's update, ASI-Guwahati said they would visit the site before reaching any conclusion.