<< Artefacts discovered from the ancient site in Sherwan Khurd village. PHOTO: EXPRESS
ABBOTABAD:

However, locals may have caused damage to the historic site through a series of construction.

While speaking to The Express Tribune on Sunday, Qayyum Khan, a villager, said locals planned to construct the damaged minaret of a mosque on the site.

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He added, “When the labourers started digging the site, they found artefacts buried 14 feet below the ground.”

They informed Abbottabad DC Ammara Khattak about the discovery. “The DC approached the archaeological department officials in Hazara University and asked them to visit the site,”
Qayyum said.

Unravelling the past

When contacted, Hazara University Archaeological Department Head Dr Shakirullah Khan said, “I visited the site and found ashy grey soil, some irregular stone slabs and mixed shreds of clay pots used during late Hindu Shahi period between seven to 11 CE.”

According to Shakirullah, the remains found from the site suggest the area was once inhabited by a settlement of the Hindu Shahi era.

“I believe the settlement was spread over an area of roughly 30 kanals,” he added.

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“Although locals have built houses on 80% to 90% of the site, around 10% to 15% of the area could be used for proper archaeological investigation.”

Shakirullah added, “Sherwan was historically called James Abbott’s peak and some more Buddhist sites could be discovered in the area.”

Need for preservation

“I have asked the provincial archaeological department and Abbottabad DC to take immediate steps for proper investigation, protection and preservation of this site,” he said. “It is susceptible to harm like other important sites that have yet to be declared protected.”