New Delhi, Oct 20 (TNN): Dismissing suggestions that the Archeological Survey of India's (ASI) Unnao gold hunt was based on a sadhu's dream or pressure from the government, ASI officials said that there was strong scientific and historical basis for the dig.

"With due respect to the sadhu, ASI does not go about digging on the basis of dreams. It has not done so in its 150 years of its history. We are conducting the excavation on the basis of scientific reports and historical importance," Dr B R Mani, additional director-general of ASI, said.

Mani said that ASI had studied the preliminary investigations of the Geological Survey of India (GSI). The report submitted to the culture ministry on October 8 suggests presence of "prominent non-magnetic anomalous zone occurring at 5-20m depth indicative of possible non-conducting, metallic contents and or some alloys etc may be tested by excavation for further interest at the specific site."

He added that the first director-general of ASI Alexander Cunningham had in a report in 1862 indicated the historical significance of Daundia Khera identifying it with Hayamukha. Hayamukha was visited by Chinese pilgrim Hieun Tsang in the 7th century, who has identified this place as having five Buddhist monasteries.

When asked about the possibility of finding gold, Mani said, "We are looking for antiquarian remains. If we do find gold then it will be interesting but it will take two weeks to a month before an assessment on the potential of the excavation or the time taken can be made."

Any discoveries made will either be examined by experts at the site or taken to a laboratory for further assessments.

According to the culture ministry, ASI's decision to excavate the site was based on the GSI report to try and unearth and determine the nature of the reported deposits.