SAD to excavate sites in Orissa to unravel hidden culture

Bhubaneswar, Jul 26 (UNI) To unravel the cultural heritage in the state, the Orissa government today directed the State Archaeology Department (SAD) to conduct excavation in Manikpatna in Puri district, Jaugada in Ganjam and the basin of the Rusikulya river.

State Culture Minister Suryanarayan Patro said the government took the decision after a survey, conducted in the coastal areas of the state, revealed the evidence of rich cultural heritage lying hidden in these areas.

The Minister said the SAD was also asked to undertake excavation in at least six Buddhist sites, located closed to Lalitgiri, Ratnagiri and Udaygiri, the early period Buddhist sites, known as the golden triangle in Jajpur district.

He said during the last three years the SAD had identified nine sites - Kaima, Tarapur, Deuli, Deolpur, Neulpur, Brajagiri, Kantigadaia, Pankuri and Radhanagar - close to the golden triangle for excavation.

While the excavation and preservation of Kaima, Tarapur and Deuli had been completed, the government asked the Archaeology department to undertake the excavation of the rest six places.

Mr Patro said he had also asked the Tourism and Archaelogy departments to prepare a project report to make a Buddhist circuit comprising of these places in a bid to promote tourism.

The Rural Development and Public Works Departments were asked to provide road connectivity to these places.

The Minister said excavation undertaken in Kapileswar on the outskirts of the capital city and in three places in Kenduli, the birth place of Jaydev, a great poet, had led to the discovery of several articles of historical importance from the sites.

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