E-Paper
INTACH plans to ?salvage archaeology?
MAINTAINING AN equilibrium between development and preserving the heritage, is what Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) is planning to do.
MAINTAINING AN equilibrium between development and preserving the heritage, is what Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) is planning to do.
Through a project titled 'Salvage Archaeology', an Indo-Swedish collaboration, that INTACH will take the help and support of the concerned organisations in preserving the archaeological sites which are being destroyed during the process of development," said Dr Sunil Gupta, convenor of Allahabad Chapter of INTACH.
"We discovered an important archaeological site in Bankata village which lies near the border of Soraon and Phulpur. The site dates from Mauryan period to Gupta period.
In the process of making a highway, the site is being damaged unknowingly.
It is our effort to sensitise the officials of National Highway Authorities of India (NHAI) to stop their work for some time so that we could make a record of the antiquities and send the important ones to be preserved by the museum," said Dr Gupta.
Dr Gupta who has already worked as field director at the excavations at Kamrej, an early historic port in Gujarat, is quite enthusiastic over the project. "We have invited Dr Anders Kaliff, an expert of 'salvage archaeology' and deputy head of the Swedish National Antiquities Board, for a presentation on June 9 at Nehru Science Centre. Dr Kaliff and Dr VD Mishra will be involved in the project," said Dr Gupta.
Salvage Archaeology is already being done in Sweden. "Dr Kaliff will acquaint us with the advanced equipments of archaeology which require less time in archaeological surveys such as ground penetrating radar, magnetometer, Trimble recording sets etc. We can also take the help of satellite imagery," he added.
"We have already presented our proposal to Joint Director of Archaeology and Chairman of INTACH.
The survey team has been made. We now propose to write to officials of NHAI to grant their support and stop any digging at the site for the moment. We are also expecting financial support from them for the purpose as the project requires a massive financial input," he added.
"Afterwards, we are planning to start the similar activities of survey for any important archaeological sites at the proposed four- lane road to be constructed till Chitrakoot.
There is no intention of creating any obstacle in the path of development works.
It is just an effort to carry on with preserving the invaluable heritage along with the significant task of development which may be lost forever," said Dr Gupta.
