Patna,(BiharTimes): The state Directorate of Archaeology has recently received the licence from the Government of India to excavate three historic sites of Bihar:  Telhara in Nalanda, Chausa in Buxar and Chechar in Vaishali.  

The historical sites would be excavated for conventional reasons.

Addressing a national seminar on “Recent Excavations in the Eastern Region”  at Patna Museum the art, culture and youth affairs secretary, Chanchal Kumar, said on Monday that apart from the excavations, the directorate would take up conservation, development and beautification work at 29 sites, including Taradih in Bodh Gaya and Dwalak shrine in Madhubani, at a cost of Rs 78 crore. The 13th Finance Commission has released funds for the development of sites.

He said “Chhatra Dharohar Yojana” was started by his department last year, wherein the universities were asked to engage students in the documentation work of heritage sites. But it did not find many takers.  

It needs to be recalled that Mauryan artefacts from Chandragupta’s period were excavated at Chechar in 1989. A figurine of Helen, daughter of one of Alexander’s commanders, was also found.

Chausa, known for a battlefield near the border with Uttar Pradesh, threw up bronze pieces from the Gupta period, indicating the spread of the empire.