Mahasthan Museum
2,500-year-old artefacts lie neglected
Hasibur Rahman Bilu, Bogra
A large number of antiques, including an earthen stove of 500 BC, excavated seven years ago have been kept at the Mahasthan Museum without any scientific preservation.Sources at the Archaeology Department said the stove is among the relics discovered during a Bangladesh-France joint excavation at the Mahasthan site in Bogra in 1999. The other artefacts that are around 2,500-year old include ring stones, bronze mirrors, a huge collection of coins, bronze statues and terracotta pieces of different periods. A high official of the Archaeology Department said a few antiques have been preserved in display boxes in the museum. However, most of the finds including the stove, the coins and statues could not be properly displayed due to the shortage of display box as well as space and other facilities. A source at the department said most antiques including the bronze statues, terracotta pieces of the Gupta period have been kept in store without proper care.
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Part of an around 2,500-year-old ring stone found while excavating in Mahasthangarh area in Bogra. PHOTO: STAR |
