God Vishnu Idol found in Volga village by Russian archaeologist

Moscow, Jan 4 (UNI) Russian archaeologists have found a God Vishnu idol, dating back to VII-X AD in Volga's Staraya 'Old' Maina village.

Staraya Maina village in Volga's Ulyanovsk region was a highly populated city 1700 years ago, much older than Kiev (Ukraine's capital), so far believed to be the mother of all Russian cities.

''We may consider it incredible, but we have ground to claim that middle-Volga region was the original land of ancient Russia.

This is a hypothesis, which requires thorough research,'' Dr Alexander Kozhevin, Reader of Ulyanovsk State University's Archaeology Department told Russian state TV.

An international conference would be held later this year to study the legacy of Staraya Maina village and it is expected that finding can radically change the history of ancient Russia.

The surroundings of the ancient town situated on the banks of Samara, a tributary of Volga, is ''studded with antiques'', Dr Kozhevin said.

Dr Kozhevin has led archaeological excavation in Staraya Maina village for about seven years. Before discovering the Vishnu idol, he found ancient coins, pendants, rings and fragments of weapons.

UNI