Afghanistan is putting a limit on how long archeologists can excavate and recover ancient Buddhist ruins at a site destined to become a copper mine.

Abdul Aziz Harib of Afghanistan’s Ministry of Mines is warning archaeologists that they will have to end their dig at Mes Aynak by June, when they will have to the site to make way for drilling equipment.  Harib says mining would begin late next year or early 2015.

The U.S. Embassy in Kabul has provided $1 million of US military funding to help save the Buddhist ruins, and the mining project has been delayed for many years.  Harib says the Chinese-owned mine will create 35,000 jobs and an annual economic effect worth $1 billion as well as attracting foreign investment.

Experts have unearthed well-preserved statues, paintings and other artifacts from the ruins that are believed to date from the 2nd to the 7th century AD.  Archeologists have recovered hundreds of statues, paintings, and other artifacts from the ruins that are believed to date from the 2nd to the 7th century AD.

“This whole mountain contains artifacts,” says University of Wisconsin-Madison professor of anthropology J. Mark Kenoyer, adding that the ancients “buried manuscripts inside the buildings that could tell us about life and commerce along the Silk Road.  Archaeologists need 30 years to properly excavate this site.”

They’ve got about 5 weeks or so.