LAHORE, May 19: The Jhang District government has reportedly started digging the historic Shorkot mound concealing the remains of an ancient fort, for a park at its site which the federal archaeology department says is illegal.

The department’s north circle director Qasim Ali Qasim has sent an SOS letter to the Jhang DCO, asking him to get the illegal digging of the mound stopped as “this is a cultural heritage of the country which we should preserve.”

The Shorkot mound is situated on the bank of the river Chenab and its site is bigger than the Lahore Fort — 1600ft east, 1200ft west and 100ft north east. It dates back to the second and third century AD.

Mr Qasim said on Sunday that according to the Section 29 of the Antiquities Act, 1975, the digging of the mound was illegal as this would deprive the country of the traces of its history.

He said so far material belonging to 18th and 19th century AD had been found at the top of the 100ft high mound. But rain had also revealed portions which indicated the presence of an ancient fort there.

Mr Qasim said the Jhang district government intended to sell the ancient remains only as an ordinary debris to create Multan’s Qasim Bagh like park there. But the difference was that the Qasim Bagh was built over the surface of an historic place whereas this one was intended to be created in lieu of the mound.

He said the mound was not a protected monument but was still covered by the antiquities act. “We intend to declare it a protected heritage but it appears that it will be vanished before this is done.” he said.

According to the findings so far, the mound spread over 50 acres of land has badly been disturbed by local people. New structures on its eastern and northern sides had also been raised at a considerable portion.

The rain erosion has formed fissures and gullies on the slopes, exposing a large number of potsherds. A shy concentration has been observed at various parts of the mound.

Rain erosion has also exposed some baked brick and mud brick structures from various parts of the site at its north western side. A circular baked brick bastion has been exposed during the lifting of the soil from the mound by local people. At present only a huge bastion and fortification is visible at many places.

The surface collection represents fragments of water pitchers, bowls, vessels, spout dishes, lids with knob and cooking pots. Most pottery is plain but some painted shreds have also been observed.