Kathmandu, June 4

The Department of Archaeology has claimed that they have found evidences to prove that an ancient civilisation dating back to the third or second century BC existed on the banks of the Jamuni River in Dhanusha district.

The location lies 16-km southeast from historic Janaki temple.

Earlier in March, locals of Mukhiya Patti Musarahaniya Village Committee had requested the DoA to conduct extensive research in the area after they discovered ancient idols while embanking the Jamuni River. Later, the DAO deployed a team of researchers in the area.

According to the DoA’s press release, they have found evidences of as many as eight human civilisations that existed in different time periods. “The DoA said that the cultural layers in the area date back to Kusand period of the first to second Century AD to Mourya Period of the third to second Century BC,” the press release reads.

Similarly, Under-secretary at DoA Ram Bahadur Kunwar, who led the team, said they had found dozens of evidences such as ancient brick walls, floors of human settlement, human-made pits, piles of mud utensils and post wholes which were used to place wooden pillars. He said that all of the artefacts had unique features of Maurya period civilisation.

Some comparatively advanced relics of Kusand Period like iron slag, terracotta beads, terracotta bangles and bricks were also discovered in the area.

Kunwar said that they also discovered unique utensil pieces called Northern Black Polished Ware which date back to 600 to 300 Century BC.

The excavation was undertaken by digging a four-metre wide and three-metre deep trench.

Officials have collected samples of Charcoal, bone and mud for further research in the area.