More than 1,000 rockets belonging to an 18th-century Muslim warrior king have been found by excavators in an abandoned well in southern India, according to authorities.

The excavation of the open well in the Shimoga district of Karnataka state led to the unearthing of rockets and shells stored by Tipu Sultan for use in wars, according to the state’s assistant director of archaeology.

According to archeological records, the fort area in Shimoga was part of Tipu Sultan’s kingdom. The powerful ruler was killed in the fourth Anglo-Mysore war in 1799 after a string of victories in battle against the British East India Company.

He is credited with developing an early, indigenous rocket known as the Mysorean, a prototype of British Congreve rockets used in the Napoleonic wars.

“Excavation of the open well led to unearthing of over 1,000 corroded rockets that were stored during Tipu’s times for use in wars,” R Shejeshwara Nayaka told Agence France-Presse from the site, 240 miles north-west of the state capital, Bangalore.

“Digging of the dry well where its mud was smelling like gunpowder led to the discovery of the rockets and shells in a pile.”

It took three days for the 15-member team of archaeologists, excavators and labourers to unearth the armoury and ammunition.

The rockets, measuring 23-26cm (9-10ins), will go on display at a museum in Shimoga.