Sunday, June 19 2005 16:56 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Srinagar: Excavators have stumbled into the remains of a bustling ancient urban settlement in Anantnag district of south Kashmir with tiled pavements "stamped in colourful human and animal motifs" and inscriptions in the now defunct Karoshti script.

"The remains of the civilisations fanning over several hectares of land was discovered during an exploration of the area by a team of the J&K Archaeology Department," Archives Archaeology and Museum deputy director Mohammad Shafi Zahid said.

He said archaeology assistants Ehsan-ul-Haq, Ghulam Rasool Teli and Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat were excavating the area when they came across "surface evidence of the civilisation". A 30 x 10 ft area was first given a "trial dig" and the top layer of an "ancient settlement" was exposed after five feet.

It consisted of a tiled pavement in concentric circles with a "full-blown lotus" at the centre. "The pavement was laid out in such a wonderful sequence that it left the excavators baffled," Zahid told PTI.

He said its tiles were "stamped in a variety of colourful motifs of humans, animals, mystical creatures, flowers and other abstract designs. Most of the tiles are inscribed in the Karoshthi script" prevalent in civilisations of north- western India circa AD 3rd-4th century.

"The features speak of some highly advanced urban civilisation which looks to have flourished on this plateau in the ancient period," Zahid said and claimed the human-animal motifs on the few exposed tiles were the first to be noticed at any archaeological site.

The excavation was at the initial stage and more teams were being deputed. The first layer was also being examined by experts.

Zahid added that the Government had already been informed about the "unique find".