Conservationists working on the 11th-century Shiva temple in Rayagada, Odisha, have discovered that its massive stone lintels were reinforced with internal wrought-iron beams. This architectural feature, hidden within the stone joinery, demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of structural engineering by the Eastern Ganga dynasty long before similar techniques became common in the region.
The restoration project has also uncovered a series of unrecorded inscriptions in early Odia script on the temple’s basement moldings. These records detail the donation of land for the maintenance of a 'Dharma-Shala' (rest house) for pilgrims traveling between the Mahanadi basin and the coastal ports, highlighting the temple's role as a vital stop on ancient trade routes.