Mound Dillu Roy site: Archaeologists find 'around 2,000-year-old' clay statue.

Byline: Shafiq Butt

SAHIWAL -- Archeologists have found a statue that may be 1800-2000 year old, apparently of a deity, during an ongoing excavation at the ancient site of mound Dillu Roy, in Kot Chutta area of Dera Ghazi Khan district.

According to Muhammad Hassan, Deputy Director, Punjab Archaeology department, south circle, the clay statute that was found with its head, an arm and torso separated might belong to a pre-Khusan dynasty having a link with Gupta period.

Mr Hassan who is supervising the excavation going on for the last six weeks said the statue was discovered at the floor level of a trench that had been dug one meter deep so far.

He said it seemed as if the statue was fixed in a wall or placed at some height and later fell on the ground.

He said the statue was of a woman that seemed to have religious connotation and meaning, as it had signs of a garland around its neck with some beads still intact. Similarly, a string of beads decorating its head with hair combed in traditional style. 'It may be of a goddess,' he added.

'Archeologists are investigating to find what era it belonged to, but according to initial assessment it could be around 1800-2000 years old.'

He said it might belong to Scythian Period of history which meant it could be more than 2000-year old.

It was the most significant discovery made so far during the excavation, Mr Hassan said.

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