Srinagar (PTI): A rare granite sculpture of Goddess Laxmi, believed to be 1,400 years old, has been found at Waghama village along the river Jehlum in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir.

The sculpture, that was found by the farmers a few days ago, has been taken in possession by the state Archives and Archeology department and its antiquity and artistic details are being studied, its Deputy Director Peerzada Mohammad Ashraf said on Sunday.

He said the farmers stumbled upon the idol when they were digging a field in Waghama-Bijbehara, 45 kms from here.

They kept the idol with them but some villagers tipped the local police who recovered it and handed it over to the archaeology department.

The idol is seven inches high and 4.5 inches wide and is seen as one of the most important findings of the year, Mr. Ashraf said.

"It is a rare find bearing Gandhara art influence," Mr. Ashraf said.

Bijbehara has been the home of Hellenistic art and evidences of early Hellenistic sculpture art had been found from here in the past.