2005-03-04 13:03:24 China View

KATHMANDU, March 4 (Xinhuanet) -- A huge archaeological site
believed to be over 1,000 years old has been discovered in
southeastern Nepal, The Rising Nepal newspaper reported Friday.

A team from the Archaeology Department uncovered a huge structure
having a 340-meter wall made up of artistic bricks on a foundation of
stone laid over soil at Kanakpatti of Khoksar Prabaha village in
Saptari district, some 200 km southeast of Kathmandu.

"The structure must have been either a palace or a monastery and
its age could be over a thousand years, because the swans and
geometric shapes present in the walls is similar to that of the Pal
period," the state-run English daily quoted Archaeology Department
Officer Prakash Darnal as saying.

Archaeologists also found windows, entrances and rooms as well as
numerous artifacts, including status, remains of crockery, engraved
bricks and a well.

The site could have been part of a palace built by Bengali Kings
on their way to Makawanpur via Saptari during their conquests, as
mentioned in historical documents, said Darnal, who is involved in the
excavation.

The statues found at the site is likely belong to the contemporary
era of India's Kushan period, he said, adding that a 25 cm wide
bearded Buddha statue will be examined at the Archaeology Department
office in Kathmandu.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/04/content_2648590.htm