A team of 8 researchers from the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Centre for Global Archaeological Research (PPAG) has left for Pakistan to join 7 researchers from the University of Peshawar (UOP) and 25 local helpers there in the first joint archaeological expedition between USM and UOP.

"The weather here is hot, around 43-52 degrees Celsius. Currently we are making preparations for the trip this Sunday to the site, Kashmir Smash, approximately 3 hours drive from here," said the Director of PPAG, Professor Mokhtar Saidin in his email from Pakistan.

According to Mokhtar, our UOP counterpart seeks USM assistance for geophysics and geological mapping at the site for a month, until July 2.

"The site is very important in the world civilization because it reveals complete evidence of prehistoric civilization of Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity and Islam," said Mokhtar.

The site is located in the mountains around 1200 meters above sea level (as if the 2nd Machu Pichu, Peru) and filled with evidence of ancient civilization such as ponds, castles and so forth.

"Besides helping them through the MoA signed in USM recently, we can also learn a lot from them, which I believe will be helpful in our study of the civilization in Sungai Batu, Bujang Valley," said Mokhtar.

– Photos: Professor Mokhtar Saidin