The Department of Archaeology and Museums has decided to write to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) seeking permission for conducting excavations at early historic Buddhist site, probably belonging to Satavahana period, located between Pazzur and Yarragaddagudem villages of Thipparthy mandal.

Following directions from Deputy Director P. Brahma Chary, Technical Assistant P. Nagaraju visited the site on Sunday and met farmers who have been cultivating the area over the years, seeking their consent for conducting excavation.

Speaking to The Hindu , Mr. Nagaraju said they have also collected some antiquities at site on Sunday – which includes a black pottery work on which is written -- Bu Da Sa -- in Brahmi script.

Stating that the site is spread over 30 acres of land, Mr. Nagaraju said that they would also write to the State government seeking grants once the ASI accepts their proposals. The Archaeology Department first identified the site in 2003 when the current State Government Advisor and then Commissioner of Archaeology and Museums, Ram Lakshman, was at the helm of affairs. Incidentally, Mr. Ram Lakshman also hails from Suraram village of Thipparthy mandal, and sent conservator Y. Bhanu Murthy to inspect the site following information from locals. The antiquities found include, female terracotta figurine, ornamental beads, spool, couple of grinding stones, red ware and black ware pottery, decorated red ware and part of rim of a storage pot, bricks, besides others.