The report on geophysical explorations at Naubat Pahad in Vidyaranya School campus by National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) researchers is expected to be submitted today. The CMD of NMDC, N. K. Nanda, is likely to handover the report to the Archaeology Department officials.
The study was carried out for a week at Naubat Pahad following submission of a sworn affidavit by construction workers who claimed that there was a treasure trove at Naubat Pahad. After collecting the data, NMDC researchers took a week to analyse and interpret the findings.
To double check their interpretation and refine the collected data, NMDC researchers also took the help of geophysicists from National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) and academicians of Osmania University.
The modality of carrying forward the excavations on the school campus will depend on the decision of the government and its Archaeology Department. Officials are already mulling constitution of a high-level committee that will take all the vital decisions on this issue. Authorities added that future excavations on Naubat Pahad will be taken after the ICSE exams of Vidyaranya School are over in April.
It is learnt that during the geophysical explorations, researchers have come across a highly magnetic ‘U' shaped anomaly that could be a pipeline, a hollow cavity, or an old construction site.
Whether the structures contain a treasure trove or not is a matter of conjecture as of now. Only when excavations take place, this could be found out, as claimed in the sworn affidavit given by a few construction workers recently.
Criticism
Last month the Archaeology Department stirred a hornet's nest literally when it took up excavations on the school premises inviting criticism from various quarters. Subsequently, when it became difficult to spot any structure, the department sought the help of NMDC.
After analysing the data, NMDC researchers have zeroed-in on a highly magnetic ‘U' shaped area, with three specific low resistivity points at Naubat Pahad. NMDC geophysicists have also found a semblance of uniformity in data collected at Naubat Pahad and Home Science College. The three low resistivity points at Naubat Pahad were comparable with those at the Home Science College.
During magnetic survey of the area, researchers also came across a specific spot with anomalies. The data from the study clearly indicates presence of a structure beneath Naubat Pahad, researchers added.
