The ancient Mauryan empire had spread beyond India, all the way till China and Nepal, according to noted Italian archaeologist Giovenni Veradi. He has drawn this conclusion on the basis of his recent excavation in Gotiwa at Nepal.

"Some parts of China and Nepal were also parts of the flourishing Mauryan empire in ancient India," said Veradi in Patna on Thursday.

Veradi told rediff.com that his inference was based on the readings of the ancient stupas at Buddhist monasteries. "During the excavation, I discovered several authentic items to suggest that some parts of China and Nepal were parts of the Mauryan empire" he said.

The Gotiwa excavation was conducted by him in collaboration with the Nepal government. Gotiwa is barely 25 km from Lord Buddha's birth place Lumbani.

According to the excavation report, three Ashokan pillars, different kinds of mounds and terracotta figurines were discovered during the archeological expedition.

Historians believe that the Mauryan empire stretched from its capital Patliputra till Assam in the east. In the west, the Mauryan kings' reign spread beyond Pakistan and covered some parts of Afghanistan, including Herat and Kandahar provinces.

The empire was founded in 322 BC by Chandragupta Maurya after ousting the Nanda Dynasty. The Mauryan rulers had spread their empire by taking over small states ruled by local rulers, who were already weakened by internal feuds.