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Site of historic arsenal at Old Goa gets a burial; evidence obliterated? The developing of a parking lot on the site of the Arsenal below St Monica Convent may have wiped a pre-Portuguese site. Pic by Barnabe Sapeco (available on print edition) By Paul Fernandes / Gomantak Times PANAJI: Are preparations for the Exposition of St Francis Xavier's relics taking a heavy toll of the natural and archaeological environment at Old Goa? Yes, say conservation experts. Old Goa is known very much for its built heritage of Portuguese vintage but fears are being raised that one of the rare pre-Portuguese sites may have been destroyed in the frantic development to create parking lots for the decennial event. Sites behind Sao Pedro Church, the Arsenal de Marinha, plots of Department of Agriculture at Ela and behind Pinto garage are being cleared for space to park more than 7,000 cars and 15,000 two-wheelers as well as buses. The site of the Arsenal of the Navy (identified as Bakhia's property and located east of Dempo Engineering Works) which is being developed for 2,000 cars and 5,000 two-wheelers) is considered archaeologically more sensitive as it was virtually a fortress and a mini-city with many edifices inside. Says Ketak Nachinolkar, conservation architect, "Any thoughtless development can cause great harm to archaeology and heritage of the place." The use of excavators and heavy earth moving machinery is more dangerous as it destroys archaeological evidence lying superficially in the soil. The development is in some of the vital sites in the core area of Old Goa Church complex. The Arsenal which overlooked the River Mandovi had greatly impressed the French traveller, Francois Pyrard who wrote about in 1608 that it was a marvel to see the artisans working there and from the river front, all that passed in the Arsenal could be seen. The great ships, some lying in the dock, others hauled ashore, the smithies and foundries and the naval stores being assembled. According to Percival Noronha, secretary of Indian Heritage Society, the Ribeira das Naus, as it was also called, was developed by the Muslim rulers and existed before the Portuguese rulers took over, a fact acknowledged in various chronicles. Fears are being raised that the development on this site may have obliterated a lot of evidence. "In fact, very little is known about the Arsenal," says Nachinolkar. Further towards the east of the Arsenal, a chapel of Cinco Chagas (Christ's Five Wounds) and the first cathedral in Old Goa was located. A unique cross which still exists and is enclosed within an illegal house now was standing in the courtyard of this edifice. Another place being levelled for parking is the Indian Hume Pipe Company, about 200 metres behind Sao Pedro church. According to Noronha, there were churches here of Sao Boaventura and St Thomas in close proximity. A life size black stone statue of St Thomas of Aquinas found at the site is now placed out in the open under a tree at St Pius Pastoral Institute. While trucks are dumping mud and road rollers are moving over to compact it, patches of greenery and hundreds of trees specially in the ICAR complex have been slashed for the alternate road. The development should have been done carefully and under supervision, says Nachinolkar. But Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is not turning its gaze at the ongoing work as the areas are out of its jurisdiction. "We cannot do much," says N Taher, deputy superintending archaeologist of ASI. With the excavation and levelling enough damage is done. "There should be no tarring of the parking lots, specially the Arsenal," says the conservation architect. ENDS