An archeologist inspects an about the miniature pagoda which is believed to contain a part of Buddha's body in Nanjing, Jiangsu province November 22, 2008. [chinaculture.org]

Archeologists opened the iron case to reveal the pagoda in August. But it took them about 100 more days to remove it from the case because it was fixed tightly in the case and its base had been sticking to the bottom of the case for about 1,000 years.

The pagoda was removed only with technical help from a local company that was part of the design team for Shenzhou spacecraft.

It has been kept in a glass case to maintain a simulated environment similar to the one it had been lying in underground.

The pagoda will be preserved as a relic out of "respect to Buddhists' sentiments," even if it is not confirmed that the coffin contains Sakyamuni's sarira.

The authorities encountered a similar situation in 2001 after the discovery on the ruins of Leifeng Tower in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province. Archaeologists decided not to try to open the welded coffin, believed to contain Buddha'a hair, out of religious consideration.