Indian Space Research Organisation scientists have been invited for radar mapping archaeological structures in and around the ruins of Nalanda, the world's oldest university, in Bihar.
"The radar mapping will help study the unexplored part of the Nalanda ruins for further excavation," said P K Mishra, the superintendent archaeologist of the Archeological Survey of India, Patna circle.
The ISRO team is expected to commence mapping operations in February, Mishra told rediff.com.
"Radar photography has proved fruitful across the world for exploration of archaeological structures followed by excavation in the ruins of any historical site," he said.
Archaeologists have been in a dilemma whether or not to start the excavation near Nalanda university, which was founded in the 5th century AD, due to lack of proper scientific details.
Chinese Scholar Huang Tsang, who visited Nalanda University in the 7th century, had left detailed description of the excellence of education system and purity of monastic life practiced in the ancient university. He had stated in his writings that the university was spread over a 16 km area. However, hardly 1.6 sq km has been excavated so far.