- Meritorious Professor, Member Board of Governors National Heritage, Pakistanedit
In recent years, inscriptions painted on pots have multiplied 1. Apparently they are all Buddhist in nature and the pots may have originally contained Buddhist texts or other sacred objects. The pot presented here comes from an unknown... more
In recent years, inscriptions painted on pots have multiplied 1. Apparently they are all Buddhist in nature and the pots may have originally contained Buddhist texts or other sacred objects. The pot presented here comes from an unknown province of Gandhara. The most important element of this inscription is the date and the mentions of Azès, probably Azes II, and Azilises; both are Indo-Scythian kings and are well known from coins of the same dynasty. It is a two-line inscription painted on the shoulder of the pot. Here is the preliminary reading and provisional translation of the inscription:
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Among the other most important recent findings of epigraphs, alongside the famous collection of Kharoṣṭhī Buddhist manuscripts made in Gandhāra, made for the present author (see Nasim Khan 2008 2 and Nasim Khan and Sohail Khan 2004), is... more
Among the other most important recent findings of epigraphs, alongside the famous collection of Kharoṣṭhī Buddhist manuscripts made in Gandhāra, made for the present author (see Nasim Khan 2008 2 and Nasim Khan and Sohail Khan 2004), is the discovery of a group of ancient inscriptions which are written in a script known as "Kohī", term coined for the first time in 2007 (see Nasim Khan 2007: 89). The first group of these inscriptions was published in 2007 but, since then, its number is steadily increasing. They are engraved on variety of materials and objects and are preserved in the different museums in Pakistan or they are part of private collections. From the time when they have been first discovered, interest in the study of these inscriptions is very much growing. This paper includes some of the newly discovered Kohī inscriptions with an effort to understand the history, nature and actual name of the script conceived at the time of its first use. The apparent similarities between Kohī signs and the letters in other ancient scripts, particularly the Chinese characters engraved on oracle bones and other objects (see Wu 2016: vi-vii) 3 will also be discussed here.
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The site of Aziz Ḍheri 2 is located about three kilometres west of the village of Ganghu Ḍher and about 11 kilometres north of the Jrando bridge, a flyover constructed over a canal on the main Mardan-Swabi road (Fig. 1). The area is... more
The site of Aziz Ḍheri 2 is located about three kilometres west of the village of Ganghu Ḍher and about 11 kilometres north of the Jrando bridge, a flyover constructed over a canal on the main Mardan-Swabi road (Fig. 1). The area is surrounded by mountains to the north, northeast and northwest. Recent research has showed that the area is rich in archaeological heritage which dates back to the prehistoric period as shown by the discovery of dozens of sites found in the area. Most of these sites are either looted by the antique seekers or levelled by their owners to turn them into agricultural land. But there are still very well preserved sites that need attention. The Megaliths at Asota near Shewa village are located about 4 kilometres to the southwest of Aziz Dheri and the site is almost preserved and is protected under the Antiquity Act of Pakistan. The 24 megaliths are arranged in circle whereas each one is about 3m high. The total number of the megaliths was 32. Similar megaliths are reported from Turlandi (Khan, SN 1995: 115 and Khan, B 2003) and other places of the Mardan-Swabi plain. Close to Asota megaliths, graves have been recently discovered that are made of large slabs and can be compared with Adina graves, located to the west of Asota. They may belong to the Kuṣāna period. Another important site situated close to the site are the remains at Rani Ghat (Nishikava 1994) situated to the northeast of Aziz Dheri. Fig. 1: Close view of the site (Google image)
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A vertical vaulted panel was recorded during excavations at a Buddhist site in the Lower Dir district. The panel is divided into three sections representing three different events in the life of the Buddha (Fig.1). One of them is damaged... more
A vertical vaulted panel was recorded during excavations at a Buddhist site in the Lower Dir district. The panel is divided into three sections representing three different events in the life of the Buddha (Fig.1). One of them is damaged and partially missing and is barely recognizable while the other two are somehow preserved, however the scene in the lower register is unclear and so the focus here is mainly on this enigmatic part of the panel. In this preliminary study, it is attempted to search for possible analogies in Gandhāran Buddhist art or to look for any textual evidence that might help explain the event.
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This paper discusses banqueting as a social activity during and immediately after the period that Achaemenid kings controlled certain parts of northwest Pakistan in the mid-late 1 st millennium BC. It has previously been argued that there... more
This paper discusses banqueting as a social activity during and immediately after the period that Achaemenid kings controlled certain parts of northwest Pakistan in the mid-late 1 st millennium BC. It has previously been argued that there is little clear material evidence for Achaemenid control over its far eastern provinces, but we argue here that a number of distinctive ceramic vessel forms, which originate in the Achaemenid heartland, are used during and after the period of Achaemenid control. We contend that this reflects the emulation of Achaemenid elite behaviour by local South Asian elites, which in turn may have led to the emulation of the same practices by local non-elites.
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This figure, carelessly executed and lacking grace, is also made of sandstone and the size is also the same as of Fig. 1. Seated on his left folded leg, he has a nimbus behind his head and wearing a crown, which is executed with a lotus... more
This figure, carelessly executed and lacking grace, is also made of sandstone and the size is also the same as of Fig. 1. Seated on his left folded leg, he has a nimbus behind his head and wearing a crown, which is executed with a lotus flower in the middle. He is decorated with a variety of ornaments―beaded necklace, bracelets and anklets and earrings. A strip of beaded ornament falls down from the necklace and reaches the mālā (?).
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The Buddhist site of Aziz Dheri, which is one of the largest archaeological mounds in Gandhāra, has a very well organized settlement pattern and has, so far, produced a rich assemblage of cultural artefacts and. Though it was first... more
The Buddhist site of Aziz Dheri, which is one of the largest archaeological mounds in Gandhāra, has a very well organized settlement pattern and has, so far, produced a rich assemblage of cultural artefacts and. Though it was first discovered in 1917 scientific excavation at the mound first started in 1992/1993. But this period the site has suffered to some extent due to few illegal diggings that resulted the discovery of a large number of Buddhist sculptures. Although the site extends over an area of about one square kilometre, only a portion of the land has been acquired by the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums (DoAM), Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. So far, less than forty percent of the acquired land has been investigated by the DoAM or by the
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The Directorate of Archaeology and Museums (DoAM) Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) preserves one of the best collections of Buddhist period sculptures in the world. Some of these artefacts are kept in the different Museums in the... more
The Directorate of Archaeology and Museums (DoAM) Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) preserves one of the best collections of Buddhist period sculptures in the world. Some of these artefacts are kept in the different Museums in the Province of KP or stored in the main building of the DoAM. These objects were either acquired or were donated to the Peshawar Museum before the independence of Pakistan in 1947. But after the establishment of the DoAM in 1992, the number of its antiquities is increased enormously, particularly with the amount of sculptures and other objects moved from the former Sub Regional Office (SRO) of the Federal Department of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Pakistan, after its devaluation in 2010. Moreover, archaeological investigations in the Province continue and add more to this large collection of the DoAM. A large number of sculptures and other cultural objects preserved in the DoAM also consists of seized materials. The objects presented here are among those antiquities which were seized during a police raid at a house situated in the Yaktoot area of the Peshawar city.
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The ancient history of Gandhāra, particularly after the Great Kushan upto the arrival of Islam, has always remained a shrouded part of Gandhāran history and a matter of great dispute. This is due to lack of sufficient archaeological,... more
The ancient history of Gandhāra, particularly after the Great Kushan upto the arrival of Islam, has always remained a shrouded part of Gandhāran history and a matter of great dispute. This is due to lack of sufficient archaeological, numismatic or other relevant source materials that could help us in the reconstruction of that particular period of history. But thanks to the mass of information so far retrieved from older and recent archaeological discoveries or other similar sources found in the region, the ancient history of Gandhāra could now be fairly reconstructed. The case for the early arrival of Muslims in the northern region of Pakistan is similar, where the early Muslim conquest can be traced back to the 10 th /11 th century AD. This is generally based on historical sources and the few fragmentary inscriptions recovered from the different parts of Gandhāra and its surrounding regions. The discovery of some recent but previously unknown Islamic coins in the area, particularly found at the site known as Kashmir Smast, may push the history of the presence of Muslims further back in Gandhāra. The objective of the present paper is, therefore, to supplement these numismatic evidences to the already recorded epigraphical and other records and try to trace the arrival of Muslims in the region of Gandhāra, maybe in the 7 th /8 th centuries AD.
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The 2010/2011 campaign to Kashmir Smast was mainly focused on the topographic study of the Great Cave and the monastic complex. Beside the topographic study of the areas, excavations were also conducted inside the Great Cave and inside... more
The 2010/2011 campaign to Kashmir Smast was mainly focused on the topographic study of the Great Cave and the monastic complex. Beside the topographic study of the areas, excavations were also conducted inside the Great Cave and inside the water reservoir located near to the spring below the monastic complex. The aim of the excavation inside Mahāguha (the Great Cave) was to understand the cultural profile of the Cave by studying its antiquities recorded during our excavation in 2010/2011. Previously, based on materials recovered from the surface, the earliest date for the occupation of the Cave was fixed to 2 nd century BC (Nasim Khan, 2006, 133). But during 2010/2011 campaign, although the deposit inside the Cave was generally found disturbed, still, some intact areas were observed there with cultural materials that could help us to better understand the chronology of the Cave. The most important findings in this regard are the numismatic evidence which tells us that the occupation of the Cave was most probably happened somewhere between the 3 rd-11 th centuries AD.
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Kashmir Smast is one of the most important archaeological sites in ancient Gandhāra (fig. 1) and, as confirmed by the previous investigations, it is regarded the earliest Shivaite monastic establishment in the region. Although the site is... more
Kashmir Smast is one of the most important archaeological sites in ancient Gandhāra (fig. 1) and, as confirmed by the previous investigations, it is regarded the earliest Shivaite monastic establishment in the region. Although the site is extremely important as far as the early implantation of Hinduism in Gandhāra is concerned, it is very unfortunate that since for the last many years this important site is subject to constant illegal diggings. The Kashmir Smast Archaeological Research Project (KSARP) was, therefore, established in 2001 with a view to understand the history of the site and try to save Kashmir Smast archaeology from clandestine activities. In this purview, the first scientific excavation was conducted in 2001 at the area of Bakhai, the main monastic complex of the site, and a preliminary survey of the monuments in the area was also carried out. This was a successful campaign which gave us certain idea of the Great Cave and the Bakhai monuments. The 2001 year campaign also helps us to reach to the virgin soil and to establish an approximate chronological table for the main complex of the site (Nasim Khan 2001). The 2006/2007 years campaign was for main aim to study the hydrological setup in the area, particularly the Great Tank, situated to the east of the Cave at an altitude of about 1175m.
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Aziz Dheri is one of the largest and best preserved archaeological sites in Gandhāra. In order to understand the nature and cultural profile of the site archaeological investigations have been carried out since 1993. Analysis of the... more
Aziz Dheri is one of the largest and best preserved archaeological sites in Gandhāra. In order to understand the nature and cultural profile of the site archaeological investigations have been carried out since 1993. Analysis of the previously published and unpublished reports about these works have revealed a great deal of discrepancy and incongruity. To establish the actual nature of the site and the true chronological sequence of the inhabitants, and to understand the internal landscape of the settlement, a new field campaign to the site was begun in mid-November 2007. Diagnostic study of the site continued for almost three months in eight different areas of the mound that mostly related to the areas which had been excavated during 1993-2006 seasons of field work. Our excavations revealed several occupational phases containing rich cultural materials belonging to periods starting at least from the Indo-Greeks and continuing up to the Islamic period of the 12 th century AD. The new excavations also revealed fresco paintings at the site for the first time. Study of the structures and layout of the buildings shows a well organised system of the town planning persuading us that Aziz Dheri remained a site of great political, cultural and religious significance.
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ying in a private collection 1 • This statue of Kr�r:ia is made of wood polished with brown paint. It measures, along with pedestal, 16.8 x 20 cm while the pedestal itself is 16.8 x 3.9 cm and weighs 950 grams. The left temple, part of... more
ying in a private collection 1 • This statue of Kr�r:ia is made of wood polished with brown paint. It measures, along with pedestal, 16.8 x 20 cm while the pedestal itself is 16.8 x 3.9 cm and weighs 950 grams. The left temple, part of the right shoulder, the tip of the nose, the right hand and the short neck top of the milk pot are damaged and m _i ssing.
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Gandhiira is a land that remained from a very early period an area of great turbulence, interface and a place for cross cultural activities. This land not only entertained to absorb, amalgamate and assimilate influences from these aliens... more
Gandhiira is a land that remained from a very early period an area of great turbulence, interface and a place for cross cultural activities. This land not only entertained to absorb, amalgamate and assimilate influences from these aliens but native cultural impact could also be observed in different cultures and arts of the neighboring territories outside the Indo-Pak subcontinent. The artistic manifestations in form of the Buddhist art of Gandhiira reflects a cultural syncretism of both Indian and foreign inspirations. This art develop over a long period of several centuries and passed through different developmental stages and is depicted in different forms and executed in different types of materials. In the early art of ancient Gandhiira, like other materials, clay also remained an important medium for making cult objects. Some of the earliest among these objects coming from Gandhiira may represent mother-goddesses and some ritual objects probably come from Bhir Mound, Taxila (Rienjang 2010:203). Sometime stucco is cored with clay the tradition which continued for a very long period in this part of the world.
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I n recent years dozens of inscriptions have been discovered in the region of Gandhara and are still turning up in increasing number. These epigraphical records are mostly coming through antique dealers, private collectors or through the... more
I n recent years dozens of inscriptions have been discovered in the region of Gandhara and are still turning up in increasing number. These epigraphical records are mostly coming through antique dealers, private collectors or through the survey being conducted regularly by the principal author. They are either painted or I Other inscriptions, recently discovered in the same area, are those written in Kharo�\hi (Nasim Khan, M. 2000. An Inscribed Relic-casket from Dir.
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From the dawn of civilization to the present day, Indo-Pak subcontinent has been a place of many interesting developments, specially in the domains of art and architecture. From his humble beginnings as a tool-maker, man in Indo-Pak... more
From the dawn of civilization to the present day, Indo-Pak subcontinent has been a place of many interesting developments, specially in the domains of art and architecture. From his humble beginnings as a tool-maker, man in Indo-Pak subcontinent emerged step by step to the higher echelons of culture. The area has a glorious past and this can be appreciated by studying its heritage coming through archaeological diggings and chance discoveries which are the main source of tracing man's history, and backgrounds of different civilizations. The first great discovery of the 19th century in the history of the archaeological finds of the Indo-Pak subcontinent was the discovery of an inscribed seal picked up by Alexander Cunningham from Harrapa in 1873. This was the first clue of the lost Indus Civilization. But a great landmark of the present century in the history of the archaeological finds oflndo-Pak subcontinent came in the form of a gold object found by a shepherdess, named Khafu, at Pattan (Indus Kohistan). This chance discovery has brought to the fore a new realm of studies in the field of art and for the art historians.
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Pakistan, the land of a rich archaeological heritage, has been the focus of scholarly research of many indigenous and foreign archaeological missions. Since independence in 1947, the northern region of Pakistan (the Upper Indus Valley) is... more
Pakistan, the land of a rich archaeological heritage, has been the focus of scholarly research of many indigenous and foreign archaeological missions. Since independence in 1947, the northern region of Pakistan (the Upper Indus Valley) is thoroughly being investigated for ancient 'rock-art' by the German and Pakistani scholars. This art of engrav ing has a very old and sharp historical profile. Although the first great discoveries in this respect were made by Ghulam Mohammad in 1907 1 and Sir A. Stein in 1942 2 , the real progress was made after the independence with the discovery of thousands of rock carvings in the northern region. Since 1979, the Pak-German Study Group has discovered more than 35000 figural drawings and 5000 inscriptions, written in various scripts. These carvings, engraved on the surface of boulders, not only indicate the historical importance of this region but, also, are a major source of information of the cultural, religious and commercial exchange among the people of ancient Central Asia, China and the Indo-Pak subcontinent 3 , most probably, from before the first century B.C. onward.
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The jewellery hoard recently found in one of the Buddhist sites in Palai area located in Malaland Agency of ancient Gandhāra (see map). The hoard consists of eighty seven light weight pieces in gold or gold plated and can be divided into... more
The jewellery hoard recently found in one of the Buddhist sites in Palai area located in Malaland Agency of ancient Gandhāra (see map). The hoard consists of eighty seven light weight pieces in gold or gold plated and can be divided into different groups, some of which are further divided into subgroups. The present study not only focuses on the significance, use and function of these objects but it also highlights its important in the ancient Indian cultures. It is also tried here to seek parallels in the Buddhist art of Gandhāra, particularly with the sculptures recovered from the Buddhist site of Zar Dheri (Mansehara).