A group of workers unearthed several kilograms of cowries, probably used as currency in ancient times, as they dug up a field in Odisha's Kendrapada district, a village council member said.

The cowries were found when the workers were digging the backyard of the house of 62- year-old Baishnava Barik at Raghudeipur village under Derabish police station area, about 100 km from state capital Bhubaneswar, Tuesday.

The discovery came to the notice of the local villagers only after the workers disclosed about it Wednesday. "About 15-20 kg of cowries were found inside a sealed clay pot," Puspalata Mallik, the village ward member said.

A state Culture Department official here said the government will send a team of experts to the area soon to gather more information on the matter.