Relic Stupa of Vaishali

It has been dated to potentially the 5th century BCE and is considered to be the earliest archaeologically known stupa.

[4] The stupa itself is made of brick and has a clay core that has been enlarged several times.

This would match up with the legends pertaining to Ashoka who is said to have redistributed the relics of the Buddha in the third century BCE.

[5] Sri Lankan sources including the Mahāparinibbāna Sutta stated that the Licchavis of Vaishali were one of the groups that were designated to receive a portion of the cremated remains of the Buddha and that they built a shrine/stupa to enhrne it at their capital.

Due to flooding in the region and a lack of drainage, waterlogging has been noted to be a potential threat to the stupas structural integrity.