KABUL: Archeologists have discovered an ancient town in the Nirk district of the central Wardak province.
The town, as old as 200 AD, has been unearthed in Alghata Hill at Dadil village, 50 kilometres west of here. The town is spread over about one and half kilometre area, provincial authorities informed. Zalmai Mayar, head of the provincial Information and Culture Department, said the historical site was unearthed on May 24 as a result of a joint survey launched by the UNICSO, Afghanistan Archeology Institute and French Embassy in 2003, says a report of Pajhwok Afghan News.
"Forty-five workers took part in the excavation following the discovery of the town," Mayar said, adding walls were engraved with different kinds of paintings. He reckoned it would take about six months to fully unearth the site.
He said 19 of the 40 surveys carried out in different parts of the country had proved successful thus far while chances of discovery of more archeological sites were bright. Qadir (30), a resident of the area, told Pajhwok Afghan News they knew about the existence of historical sites but avoided illegal excavation. He urged the government to protect and preserve the site.
Nirkh police chief Rajab Khan said security officials had been deployed in the area to safeguard the ancient town. He assured full cooperation to the department concerned.
When asked for comments, officials of the French Embassy and the archeology institute refused give any details. However, head of archeology at the Ministry of Information and Culture Mohaqiq Mohammad Nadar Rasooli, told this news agency excavation at the site had begun, and initial work indicated the existence of a temple and a stupa. | 
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