Fragments of prehistoric ostrich eggshells estimated to be 25,000 years old and earthen dice belonging to the Kushan period are the latest additions to the treasure trove of archaeological objects discovered in Bundi district of Rajasthan. The findings are set to throw a new light on the hoary past of the Hadauti region which is believed to have sustained an ancient civilisation. Amateur archaeologist Om Prakash Sharma alias Kukki, who has made the spectacular discoveries, was honoured at the Republic Day ceremony of the State Government’s Directorate of Archaeology at Albert Hall Museum here on January 26. Mr. Kukki – a barely literate grocer with a passion for the artefacts of yore – has discovered rock paintings belonging to Mesolilithic-Chalcolithic age and numismatic objects and tools of copper age and the Mauryan and post-Gupta period in the vast hilly tracts of Bundi, Kota and Bhilwara districts during the past two decades. Mr. Kukki, who brought the rare findings with him, told The Hindu here that he stumbled upon the ostrich eggshells in the ravines of Nangli river, 35 km from Bundi, about three months ago. These eggshells most probably belong to a single egg as they were collected from a small area and are similar in colour, thickness and morphology. [...]