A significant 2nd-century BCE temple foundation belonging to the Satavahana Dynasty has been discovered near the coastal village of Murud. The site features unique maritime motifs, including shell-inlaid friezes depicting ancient voyagers and sea creatures, suggesting a strong link between religious practices and the early Indo-Roman maritime trade that flourished along the Konkan coast.
The discovery is being hailed as a major breakthrough in understanding early structural temple architecture in Western India. Excavators also found a cache of lead coins and Roman amphorae fragments within the sanctum perimeter, providing tangible evidence of the economic prosperity that funded these sacred constructions. The use of locally sourced marine materials for ornamentation marks a distinct departure from the inland basalt traditions of the era.