The excavation at the disputed site in Ayodhya to find out whether a temple existed beneath the demolished Babri mosque began on Wednesday amidst tight security, Faizabad district administration sources said.
 
The digging began at 1335 hrs ten feet away from the make-shift temple after a three-hour survey by an Archaelogical Survey of India team.

The excavation, ordered by the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court, which is hearing a title suit on the land acquired by the government in the aftermath of the mosque's demolition, started in the presence of counsels and nominees of the contesting parties.

The place was cleaned and wild grass cut before labourers began digging under the supervision of Superintending Archeologist B R Mani.

Though Mohammad Hasim Ansari of the Sunni Central Waqf Board and one of the original plaintiffs boycotted the exercise, the Board was represented by Zafrayab Geelani, who was accompanied by two archaeologists -- R C Takran and Mohammad Abid.