Pulwama, Jan 04:
A Neolithic site has been discovered in the Newa area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district, believed to offer valuable insights into the New Stone Age civilization. The site, which locals claim was first exposed during road-widening work on Karewa land, has garnered attention from both residents and experts alike.
Local residents were the first to notice the findings and promptly informed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Srinagar Circle. Witnesses reported that a team of ASI researchers visited the site months ago to document the discovery.
Javeed Ahmad, a local resident, revealed that the excavation uncovered pits containing bones and other artifacts, which experts suggest may have served as ancient burial sites.
However, officials from the ASI Srinagar Circle have not shared further details about the discovery with Rising Kashmir. Rahul Ramesh Bhosle, Superintending Archaeologist of ASI’s Srinagar Circle, stated that he is not authorized to release information to the media and referred all queries to the ASI Directorate.
In response to the discovery, the Directorate of Archives, Archaeology, and Museums (AA&M) in Jammu and Kashmir has taken steps to ensure the preservation of the site. In an official communication dated December 31, 2024, the department requested the District Development Commissioner of Pulwama to safeguard the site until it is officially designated as a protected monument.
The directives from AA&M include assigning the jurisdictional magistrate responsibility for the site’s security, placing multilingual signboards in Urdu, Hindi, and English, and imposing restrictions within a 200-meter radius. The department has also requested revenue documents and a detailed site map to expedite the next steps.
Additionally, the AA&M has instructed the Deputy Director, Archives, Archaeology, and Museums (Kashmir), to visit the site and submit a status report, along with geotagged photographs, within a week.
