After unsuccessfully digging for gold for more than ten days at the Raja Rao Ram Bux Singh fort in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, the Archaeological Survey of India has ended its quest.
With no sign of even an ounce of gold, forget about the prophesied 1,000 tonnes of the precious metal as claimed by seer Shobhan Sarkar, and with just a few pieces of “pottery from the Buddhist period” to show for it labour at the 19th Century fort in Daudia Kheera village, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) under the Union Culture Ministry has abandoned the excavation work at the site.
The Pioneer had on Monday reported that even after digging up to depths of around 4.80 metres, the ASI found no sign of the treasure. The ASI also decided to stop the excavation carried out on the basis of the Geographical Survey of India’s (GSI) report after reaching the natural surface.
The GSI in its report had recommended digging at the site claiming that there were possibilities of locating gold, silver or any other alloy. However, except for a nail piece in the name of metal, nothing substantial has been recovered so far.
On Tuesday, Director-General, ASI, Pravin Srivastava said that the archaeological excavation was restricted between two parallel brick walls in a space of 3 metres by 2.50 metres and continued up to the depth of 4.80 metres below the surface and reached a level of gravel formation in part of the trench which actually started from 4.60 metres.
“After, this layer it is not possible to excavate further,” he told reporters. He said that so far a broken iron nail has been excavated, apart from glass bangles, a fragmented miniature stone figure of a lion, and terracotta arecanut-shaped beads (necklace used for animals). “The ASI has also excavated a burnt brick structure and brick walls besides a few pieces of shapeless pottery,” he added.
However, the red-faced ASI has decided not to give up easily. On Tuesday, it kicked off excavation work at an adjacent site near the Ganga River. But this time, it is not hoping to unearth gold but historical antiquities. “Now, the GSI team, in consultation with ASI officials, has suggested trial excavations in another area at the site close to Ganga River,” Srivastava added.
The excavation for the hidden gold had begun on October 18 after Shobhan Sarkar, dreamt that 1,000 tonnes of gold worth Rs 31,000 crore was buried under the ruins of the 19th Century fort. It was however at the behest of Food Processing Minister, Charan Das Mahant, that the Union Culture Ministry decided to look into the matter. Following this, a team of ASI and GSI officials surveyed the area and decided to dig.