MARDAN, April 27: Three Buddhist stupas and some artefacts were discovered during the recent excavations at the Shalkandey village near Munda in Lower Dir district, Dawn learnt on Sunday.

The excavation was started by the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, NWFP, after a lapse of about four decades.

The site has been excavated by the officer in charge of Chakdarra Museum, Dir, Dr Zainul Wahab, and was supervised by Prof Ihsan Ali, director of archaeology.

The sources said that during excavation three big stupas, some sculptures and a small knife were found from the site.

Dr Zainul Wahab disclosed that the discovery of Shalkandey site was a valuable addition to the series of Gandhara culture and civilization.

Mr Wahab said that they were forced to stop excavations by some alleged smugglers, and were being threatened with dire consequences.

He said that the leader of the smugglers, Dost Mohammad, was propagating that the excavation work was un-Islamic.

Mr Wahab said that this valuable site had been destroyed by smugglers and that they already sold a number of artefacts to parties abroad.

He appreciated the district coordination officer, Lower Dir, Ashfaq, and district naib nazim Rasool Khan for their cooperation in making the area tourist-friendly.