Kolkata, July 10 - The West Bengal government will set up a specialised centre for carrying out research and training on archaeology and heritage management, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has said.

The centre will also house the state heritage commission, Bhattacharjee said Thursday while moving a demand for grants for the information and cultural affairs department in the assembly.

The excavations by the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums at Hatpara in Murshidabad district has pushed back the known history of human habitation in the area to approximately 40,000 years.

'The excavation is expected to bridge the gap between the stone-age and the late historic period,' said the chief minister.

'Along with this, the directorate is also taking up an impressive mound at Deka, located in the same district, with a view to understanding the nature of early medieval site and settlement in the area,' he added.