The structure of the brick-built Buddhist temple found near the Mahasthan Mazar is at least 1,200 years old, said Regional Director of Archaeology Department Abdul Khaleque.

The latest session of the Bangladesh-France joint excavation ended in March this year, he said.

The temple has features similar to the Godaibari Dhap temple found earlier at Mahasthangarh and the Itakhola Mura temple found at Mainamati in Comilla, said an excavation report of the Archaeology Department.

An official of the department said the brick structures found in the temple are clearly two small rooms. Two pieces of stone older than the temple were also found, he added.

The wide brick road was found under the structure of a house.

Sources said a good number of antiques including ornamental and polished bricks, clay ornaments and toys, terracotta pieces and cast coins of the Gupta and Paul periods were also found at the site. A monument was also detected in the area with signs of ancient houses.

Abdul Khaleque said more excavation is needed to know more about the temple and its structure.

A huge number of bricks have been stolen from the temple at different times--both before and during the excavation, officials at the Archaeology Department said, alleging lack of security at the site.

Earlier, the department discovered an earthen stove of 400 BC from the same area along with other antiquities from different periods.

Ancient coins, statues, terracotta and old house structures have been discovered at different points of the Mahasthangarh site during the joint excavation since 1993.