Deep-trench excavations at the site of Tosali, once the provincial capital of the Mauryan Empire in Kalinga, have revealed a rare brick temple base. Dated to the 3rd-century BCE, the structure is one of the earliest examples of formalized religious architecture in eastern India. It features a square plan with a central altar area that shows evidence of ritual fires.
Items found at the site include NBPW (Northern Black Polished Ware) pottery and terracotta figurines that suggest the site was used for both Buddhist and early Vedic rituals. The discovery at Tosali is significant as it provides a physical link to the period of Emperor Ashoka's reign and his subsequent patronage of religious institutions in the region. The site is now being protected as a major heritage zone.