LAHORE, Feb 5: The federal archaeology department has conducted 'first-ever' survey of the pre-historic forts called Taulaja and Akrand in Khushab district.

The department has decided to document both the sites which are located on high mountains covered with steep cliffs. Taulaja is some 33km while Akrand is 68km from Khushab. The forts are spread over 10 and seven acres, respectively.

Archaeologists Muhammad Afzal Khan and Rustam Khan, who surveyed the sites, recommended the establishment of a museum to house the pre-historic articles found in the area.

They also recommended development of a route to the forts for the visitors.

To reach the Taulaja Fort, one has to walk through a dense bush jungle. There are steep cliffs all around the fort. The only access to the fort is from the shrine of Faqir Kacchi from north, some 600 metres below the main site.

The remains of some houses built with dressed stones of mega sizes and a pond were found besides some burnt bricks, which are also big in size.

There are ruins of a 'remarkable' hall also built with dressed stones. "A knight or a king might have lived in it," say the archaeologists.

On a hilltop south-east of Taulaja, there is a post locally known as TeerWah (to throw arrows). On the eastern slops, there is a wall of dressed stones, probably for defence.

The ruins of Akrand Fort are also covered with bushes. Postsherds were collected from the site. On the top of the hill there is a wide-open field dotted with stone-built one-room rectangular compartments. Some graves of 'N S axis' were also found in Akrand. COINS: During their survey of the area housing the two forts, the archaeologists found coins from nearby villages that pertain to different eras.

Of them, 549 coins are believed to be from the era between 1060 to 1215 AD. Similarly, 893 coins found from Chitta village on the Sakesor hills belong to Saifuddin Hasan Qurlag, one of the leading generals of Jalaluddin Malik Banin, the last emperor of the Kharizmian rule, early 13th century.

Another 304 coins found from Sodhi village belong to Ghaisyasuddin Balban, the Pathan Sultan who ruled Delhi during 1265-87 AD.

The archaeologists say that this site (around the two forts) has not been inhabited since last many centuries. Not much has been written about the history of Khushab area. Gen Cunningham shed some light on the archaeological remains and narrated the history of the inhabitants of the area.

The word Khushab is used both for the city and the country in Tuzk-i-Baburi. It is the first historical account which contains direct reference to Khushab.

Babur's narration regarding the Khushab indicates that it had been a territory of Amir Timur who invaded it in 1398 AD.

According to Aain-i-Akbari, Khushab was part of Sind-Sagar Daob of the Lahore province during Akbar's period. It is said that during the reign of Shah Jahan, this town lost its importance. Aurengzeb did pay some attention to Khushab for strategic purposes.

No serious effort has been made at the department level to explore a number of monastic remains of Buddhist and Hindu temples subsequently trailed up by Muslims, Sikhs and British period remains and monuments in the district.

Curator Afzal Khan told Dawn that Muhammad Sarwar, a local who collected some antiquities from the sites and mounds, had established a small museum in Khabekki.

He said the excavation of these sites would help the department know the culture of the people who had lived there.