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ARCHAEOLOGISTS have dug out the remains of a 2,500-year-old city - believed to be bigger than classical Athens - from under the ruins of an ancient fort in India's eastern state of Orissa.
Eighteen pillars were found among the remnants of the grand city at Sishupalgarh, a ruined fort first discovered six decades ago, the Times of India newspaper reported.
Sishupalgarh lies on the outskirts of Orissa's main city of Bhubaneshwar.
The findings of the team of archaeologists from India and the United States include the debris of household pottery and terracotta ornaments showing that the city's inhabitants led an advanced lifestyle.
The site is "the most visible standing architectural monument discovered in India so far," Monica Smith, head archaeologist from the University of California who was part of the 12-member team that conducted the excavation, told the newspaper.
"It's a huge city that existed about 2,500 years ago. The city had four gateways and could have housed up to 25,000 people. Even classical Athens had only 10,000 people," another archaeologist, RK Mohanty, was quoted by the newspaper as saying.
Scientists said the city was an important one, with well-built walls and a big expanse.
The pillars uncovered during the excavation work were part of a gigantic structure and probably used for public gatherings or special functions.
However, it was not clear how such a huge city was destroyed, researchers said, adding that information about the ancient city would be gathered with the help of fresh data and findings
Eighteen pillars were found among the remnants of the grand city at Sishupalgarh, a ruined fort first discovered six decades ago, the Times of India newspaper reported.
Sishupalgarh lies on the outskirts of Orissa's main city of Bhubaneshwar.
The findings of the team of archaeologists from India and the United States include the debris of household pottery and terracotta ornaments showing that the city's inhabitants led an advanced lifestyle.
The site is "the most visible standing architectural monument discovered in India so far," Monica Smith, head archaeologist from the University of California who was part of the 12-member team that conducted the excavation, told the newspaper.
"It's a huge city that existed about 2,500 years ago. The city had four gateways and could have housed up to 25,000 people. Even classical Athens had only 10,000 people," another archaeologist, RK Mohanty, was quoted by the newspaper as saying.
Scientists said the city was an important one, with well-built walls and a big expanse.
The pillars uncovered during the excavation work were part of a gigantic structure and probably used for public gatherings or special functions.
However, it was not clear how such a huge city was destroyed, researchers said, adding that information about the ancient city would be gathered with the help of fresh data and findings
