Workers involved in digging works at the Vardaraja temple in Srikalahasti town on Wednesday morning stumbled onto an iron box believed to be around 5 centuries old.
The workers were digging a trench as part of repair works going on in the temple, when they discovered an ancient tunnel. They further ventured in the tunnel, and found the ancient box.
Temple authorities then alerted officials from the archaeological department, who took the box into their custody.
Speculation is rife among the denizen of Srikalahasti town that the box contains a treasure chest, but archaeological department sources say that it may contain artefacts and other valuable items of the Srikrishnadevaraya period.