DoAM to resume archaeological sites survey in federal capital from December

0
155

ISLAMABAD: The Department of Archaeology and Museums (DoAM) and National History and Literary Heritage (NH&LH) Division will resume the first-ever survey of archaeological sites in the federal capital by December.

The survey had been halted due to unavailability of funds earlier.

The survey was initiated by DoAM to find potential sites in five zones of Islamabad for excavation, preservation and documentation of precious heritage for future generations.

The project of conducting an archaeological survey in the capital, at the cost of Rs2 million, was approved by the National Fund for Cultural Heritage (NFCH) to address the threat of endangered sites and monuments due to climate changes and construction, DoAM Assistant Director (AD) Mahmoodul Hassan informed while talking to APP.

The team of archaeological experts from DoAM has so far identified 30 ancient archaeological sites and monuments in Zone IV of the capital with funds worth Rs1 million released earlier. The survey was stopped after the utilisation of the amount and will now start again after acquiring another Rs1 million which will be utilised for survey work as well as the publication of identified sites.

Mahmoodul Hassan said that the survey was being carried out by the experts who had divided Islamabad into five zones. He said that the objective behind the survey is to conserve endangered archaeological sites and monuments.

The team conducting the survey is comprised of archaeological experts, photographers, draftsmen and other staff members who are recording site details for documentation and finding potential sites for excavation.

The DoAM assistant director said that the discoveries so far explored from Zone IV include historical monuments, pre-partition Sikh worship places, Mughal era mosques, structures from the Buddhist period and a memorial from the British period wars.