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The BBC Reports on the finding of the Library of Alexandria

Archaeologists have found what they believe to be the site of the Library of Alexandria, often described as the world's first major seat of learning. A Polish-Egyptian team has excavated parts of the Bruchion region of the Mediterranean city and discovered what look like lecture halls or auditoria.

Announcing their discovery at a conference being held at the University of California, Zahi Hawass, president of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, said that the 13 lecture halls uncovered could house as many as 5,000 students in total. A conspicuous feature of the rooms, he said, was a central elevated podium for the lecturer to stand on. "It is the first time ever that such a complex of lecture halls has been uncovered on any Greco-Roman site in the whole Mediterranean area," he added.

"It is perhaps the oldest university in the world."

The Library of Alexandria was sanctioned by Ptolemy I Soter, the successor of Alexander of Macedonia. But by then Takshashila had established itself as a place of learning. Too bad, Dr David Whitehouse, the BBC News Online science editor does not know about Takshashila.