Claims of Indian contact thumb|upright|The Somnathpur figures at the sides hold maize-like objects in their left hands In 1879, Alexander Cunningham wrote a description of the carvings on the Stupa of Bharhut in central India, dating from c. 200 BCE, among which he noted what appeared to be a depiction of a custard-apple (Annona squamosa). Cunningham was not initially aware that this plant, indigenous to the New World tropics, was introduced to India after Vasco da Gama's discovery of the sea route in 1498, and the problem was pointed out to him. A 2009 study claimed to have found carbonized remains that date to 2000 BCE and appear to be those of custard-apple seeds.
Claims of Indian contact thumb|upright|The Somnathpur figures at the sides hold maize-like objects in their left hands In 1879, Alexander Cunningham wrote a description of the carvings on the Stupa of Bharhut in central India, dating from c. 200 BCE, among which he noted what appeared to be a depiction of a custard-apple (Annona squamosa). Cunningham was not initially aware that this plant, indigenous to the New World tropics was introduced to India after Vasco da Gama's discovery of the sea route in 1498, and the problem was pointed out to him A 2009 study claimed to have found carbonized remains that date to 2000 BCE and appear to be those of custard-apple seeds.