PESHAWAR, April 26: Unesco has approved nomination of the archaeological site of Ranigat, also known as Queen’s Rock, in Buner district for inclusion in the world heritage list, according to sources in the archaeology department.

The department had been asked to submit a management plan by September this year, official sources said.

If approved, Ranigat will be the second site in the NWFP to appear on the list.

The archaeological site of Takhtbai in Mardan district is already on the list.

Other archaeological sites in Pakistan which are on the heritage list include Moenjodaro, Taxila, Rohtas Fort and Shalimar Gardens.

The archaeological remains at Ranigat, 140 kilometres from Peshawar and 20 kilometres from Swabi, are located on top of a hill where there is a huge granite rock.

The site is 225 meters above the foothill in a 270.55 kanal area.

Ranigat belongs to the period of first-sixth century AD. The site is protected under the Antiquities Act 1975.

The Ranigat remains have unique architecture and constitute the largest Buddhist site in Gandhara region, an archaeologist said.

The stone masonry work at Ranigat is different from other Buddhist sites in Gandhara region. It includes cottages, shelters and watch-towers made by cutting huge granite rocks.

The site is considered to be a fortress which had been surrendered to Alexander the Great.

A scientific mission of the Kyoto University in collaboration with the department of archaeology undertook excavation at the site in three terms between 1984 and 1989.

It unearthed a large number of ruins of stupas, shrines, chapels, monasteries, some secular buildings and drainage network.

Coins, pottery and stone and stucco sculptures were found during survey and excavation.

Preservation of Ranigat is under way under a joint project of Unesco and Japan’s Funds-in-Trust, launched in 1994 to preserve the Gandhara monuments in Pakistan.

The pilot project at the Ranigat site includes restoration, management and conservation activities

Many historic and archaeological sites in the NWFP lack facilities and staff to look after the places. For example, Takhtbai has four watchmen and Ranigat only one.

Illegal excavations at Ranigat have damaged the archaeological ruins.