A significant archaeological discovery in Lakkundi village, Gadag district, Karnataka, has led the state government to commence a full-scale excavation. The initial find involved a cache of 22 gold ornaments, weighing between 466 and 470 grams, inside an ancient copper pot during the excavation for a house foundation. A Class 8 student, Prajwal Ritti, is credited with the honest discovery, promptly alerting village elders and authorities. Initially, an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) official suggested the ornaments might be household jewellery buried for safekeeping rather than a historical treasure. However, the Director of Karnataka's Department of Archaeology, Museum and Heritage, Dr. R. Shejeshwar, later clarified that anything over 100 years old is officially considered an antique or 'treasure.' Consequently, the gold, valued at approximately Rs 60-70 lakh, has been secured in the government treasury, and the discovering family is slated to receive compensation in accordance with the Treasure Trove Act. The subsequent 'treasure hunt,' or full-scale archaeological excavation, is being conducted at the Kote Veerabhadreshwara Temple premises in Lakkundi, a 10x10 meter area earmarked for the purpose. Lakkundi is renowned for its profound historical significance, dating back to the Kalyana Chalukya period (10th-12th centuries CE), and is often referred to as a 'paradise of temples' and a cradle of sculpture. The village was also an important economic and minting center in ancient times. This ongoing excavation aims to uncover more artifacts, inscriptions, and structures that could further enrich the understanding of Karnataka's medieval history and Lakkundi's once-prosperous past.