2,000-year-old objects found in Pakistan's Taxila

About 200 objects dating back to the first century AD have been found during excavations near Pakistan's ancient site of Taxila.

Taxila shows the different stages in the development of a city on the Indus that was influenced by Persia, Greece and central Asia and which, from the 5th century BC to the 2nd century AD, was an important Buddhist centre of learning.

It lies 30 km northwest of Rawalpindi.

Dawn reported that a team of Taxila Institute of Asian Civilisation (TIAC) found the 200 objects during excavations at an ancient Buddhist Stupa and monastery near Taxila.

The objects are mostly stamped pottery parts of terracota, iron pieces and lamp.

The institute's director Mohammad Ashraf Khan noted that the site had the potential of holding ancient treasures.

He said the first excavation at the site was carried out in 1916-17 by Sir John Marshall, the second in 2005 and then in 2006.

Khan said the history of Taxila should be rewritten in light of the fresh discoveries.