Ananova:

Archaeologists have begun a dig in search of a lost Indian civilisation after two villagers working in a field uncovered about 22lb of ancient gold jewellery, setting off a gold rush.

They hope to find evidence of the mysterious Harappan civilisation which existed in the mists of time 4,000 years ago after the treasure was found in a field in the village of Mandi, near Delhi.

Police had to cordon off the farmland to stop Indians flocking to the village to dig up the land.

Now scientists from the Archaelogical Survey of India have taken over the site for scientific purposes.

The Harappan civilisation flourished in 2500 BC in western India and Pakistan, where it was home to the largest of the four ancient urban civilisations of Egypt, Mesopotamia, India and China

The archaeologists are making a small trench to see if there is any more gold left at the site.

If their initial digging discovers relics of an old settlement, they will start extensive excavations as soon as the monsoon season is over in October.

The existence of the Harappan civilisation was first discovered by a British explorer at Mohenjo Daro in Pakistan in the 1920s.