7. A Garden Doorstep at a Home in the UK Identified as a Rare Sri Lankan Artifact
Where: Devon, England
Year Found: 2013 Estimated Value: $47,500*
A Devon, UK, home’s garden doorstep turned out to be much more than what originally met the eye. After having the doorstep evaluated, the homeowners discovered that it wasn’t a step at all but rather an old moonstone from Sri Lanka.
A Rare Sri Lankan Artifact Found on a UK Home’s Garden Doorstep ©Wikimedia/Astronomyinertia
In Sri Lanka, during the Anuradhapura Period (400 B.C. to 1,000 A.D.), these Sandakada Pahana were discovered in temples. The homeowner claimed that when her family bought the house in 1950, the stone was included. The stone, which Sri Lanka has made (ineffective) suggestions it wants back, brought close to $50,000 at a 2013 Bonham’s auction.
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