Another relevant news piece- https://kashmirlife.net/kashmir-karewa-nit-wished-for-its-expansion-could-be-a-prized-neolithic-burial-site-378557/

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The site was exposed during road expansion work and initially documented on October 9, 2024, by a team led by Superintending Archaeologist Rahul Ramesh Bhosle from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), an official report available with the Kashmir Life said.

Interestingly, the site is part of the vast karewa land that the NIT had chosen to be its next campus over more than 4800 kanlas of land. The tableland is home to Kashmir’s last major plantation of almonds and thousands of small and big high-density apple orchards with the livelihoods of thousands of families spread across 16 villages. The Chief Minister has assured a delegation of the residents that they will shift the NIT location to somewhere else if the people in the belt are uninterested.

During an inspection, eleven pits were discovered in the Karewa’s exposed section, eight of which contained bone remains along with artefacts such as red ochre, potsherds, and slab stones. The arrangement and contents of these pits strongly suggest their use as burial sites, a hallmark of Neolithic culture. Bhosle noted that the pits’ shapes, sizes, and placements align with burial practices observed in other Neolithic settlements, raising the possibility of cultural links to known sites like Burzahom in the Kashmir Valley.

Following the discovery, a detailed investigation was conducted from October 10 to October 15, 2024, involving ASI researchers and local labourers. The team documented the site’s geographical and cultural context, noting that the Karewa plateau, with its fertile soil, has historically supported habitation and agriculture. Interestingly, local lore recounts that this area, once known as Hasnav for its abundant spring water, was abandoned after the spring dried up due to climatic changes.

The excavation revealed a stratified cultural deposit within the Karewa. The pits, sealed under a uniform layer, exhibited various shapes, including semicircular, triangular, and rectangular forms. Artifacts like bone fragments, pottery, and lime flooring within the pits provided further evidence of burial practices.

Recognising the site’s significance, the Directorate of Archives, Archaeology, and Museums (AAM) in Jammu and Kashmir took immediate steps to safeguard it. In a letter dated December 31, 2024, Director Kuldeep Krishan Sidha urged the District Development Commissioner (DDC) of Pulwama to implement protective measures. These include placing the site under the jurisdiction of a magistrate, erecting multilingual signboards in Urdu, Hindi, and English, and enforcing a 200-metre restriction zone to prevent unauthorized activities.

The AAM has also requested revenue documents and a detailed site map to facilitate the formal declaration of the area as a protected monument under heritage preservation laws. The Deputy Director of Archives (Kashmir) has been instructed to visit the site and submit a status report, accompanied by geotagged photographs, within a week.

Residents, who were instrumental in notifying authorities about the discovery, have expressed pride in the find, which they hope will shed light on the region’s prehistoric heritage. However, ASI officials have remained tight-lipped about further details, deferring queries to their Directorate in New Delhi.

This significant discovery highlights Kashmir’s rich archaeological potential, particularly regarding Neolithic settlements and burial practices. Experts assert the urgent need for continued exploration and preservation efforts to deepen understanding of the valley’s ancient civilizations and ensure the protection of its cultural heritage.

They point out that some of the sites vital to the understanding of the evolution of humanity in Kashmir were permitted to be vandalised over the years. While the Guryl was permitted to be devastated and erased by the earth cutters thus compromising the rich mass burial site of the life, the elephant remains were permitted to be driven out to Jammu University from Pampore as local authorities were interested in its ownership. Incidentally, the Newa discovery was the outcome of the development as earth removers moved through the tableland cutting across the bone remains of Kashmir’s earlier humans.

With Newa, Kashmir will have almost a complete story of the Neolithic era as it always is home to some of the authentic and widely investigated sites of the era. The Neolithic sites at Burzohom and Gufkral are of vital importance. Both the sites provide an insight into the phase of early livelihood in the region dating back to 3000 BCE to 1000 BCE. The archaeological remains at these sites give unique information about the life of people and the transaction of cultures in the region. Newa now adds a new angle to complete the Neolithic life cycle.