The main entrance to Pakka Sarai in Gujar Khan. — Dawn

ISLAMABAD Archaeologists have discovered nearly 80 new sites of historical significance in Rawalpindi district.

A survey conducted to document heritage in the region has probably opened new chapters into history when archaeologists from the Taxila Institute of Asia Civilisation at the Quaid-i-Azam University found these sites spread across Gujar Khan and Kallar Syedan tehsils.

Only half way into their survey, archaeologists documented 130 sites and monuments including the new discoveries.

'These were astonishing new findings,' said Director, Taxila Institute of Asian Civilisation, Dr Mohammad Ashraf Khan.

'Preliminary analysis has been fascinating. We think that the clues and references gathered take us back into the annals of ancient history — right from the 3rd millennium BC to the Hindu Shahi period of 10th century AD,' Dr Khan said.

The sites include ancient mounds, rock shelters, baolis (stepped wells), mosques, graveyards and numerous ancient ponds.

'It was like we hit a jackpot — discovering as many as 15 to 20 sites in just a few days,' the institute's director said.

He said the artifacts discovered from these sites belonged to various periods — Pre-Arians, Achaemenian, Indo-Greek, Setho-Parthian, Buddhist and then the Hindu Shahi period.

'We found painted pottery or pot shards with geometric and floral motives. But the most important discovery so far in our preliminary findings are the seals, dices, terracotta animal and human figurines and iron objects belonging to different periods,' he said.

What was truly fascinating was when this team ventured into Dhan Gali — probably not explored and documented before by archaeologists — and found a tomb, fortress and a mosque believed to have been built by the Ghakkars, PhD scholar with QAU and anthropologist, Zulfiqar Ali Kalhoro, said.

The team did not want to disclose locations of some of the sites to protect them from prying eyes. The team would begin its documentation again by the end of December. The survey would include documentation of sites and monuments marked by the Muslim invasion and down to the British Raj, Dr Ashraf Khan said.