Sugarcane
ELITE MEMBER
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2011
- Messages
- 21,105
- Reaction score
- 29
- Country
- Location
ISLAMABAD: Discovered in a recent excavation, archaeologists cannot make out what a stone structure, possibly from the first century AD, really is. The structure was discovered at a site in Ban Fakiran, near the caves of Shah Allah Ditta in the Margalla Hills.
The Department of Archaeology and Museums (DOAM) had begun excavation work on the site in August.
Spreading over two to three kanals and camouflaged by tall grass, the site sits on top of a hill and is just a two hour hike away from the famous caves of Shah Allah Ditta, which are thought to be Buddhist remains.
The stone masonry work of a newly discovered structure is identical to that found in Buddhist ruins in the ancient Taxila Valley, but experts cannot make out what the structure is.
Dr Farooq Swati, who has a PhD in Gandhara Art and Architecture and was invited to visit the site to give his expert opinion, said the structure was not a stupa or a watchtower.
“After preliminary analysis, we can safely say that it was built somewhere between the first to second and fourth century AD. We will have to dig more to establish what the structure is. All I can say right now is that it is a rare site,” he said, adding that the top of the site might have been destroyed.
He said the structure might have been purposely built on top of the Margalla Hills, right between the Taxila Valley and the Potohar region. It sits in an ancient route which was used by pilgrims and trade caravans, and remains in use.
The stone masonry is similar to the Bhamala Stupa in Taxila, the Bhallar Stupa in Khanpur and the masonry of the Dharmarajika in Taxila. All of these have also been categorised as world heritage sites.
The fact that it is close to the famous Giri Stupa in Taxila, which is also a world heritage site, raises the importance of this newly excavated site. The deputy director of the Department of Archaeology, Ghafoor Lone, who is leading the excavation project at Ban Fakiran said the site is likely to make the federal capital ‘historically rich’.
“The remains of Ban Fakiraan are located some three kilometers from the Giri Stupa, which could mean that this too is a significant Buddhist site,” said Mr Lone, who has also been part of other important excavations, like those at Jinnan Wali Dheri and Badalput in Taxila and some in Balochistan.
He explained that the structure was roughly ten square meters with another section attached to it which was about 16 meters long.
Archaeologists think one of the structures could be the first mosque built in the Ghaznavi period. Other artefacts have also been found at the site, including six copper coins with impression of Kushan kings such as Vima Kadphises, who is known to have issued an extensive series of coins. Four iron arrowheads were also discovered during the excavation, which is still in progress and will extend to a nearby water tank and mosque, also from historical times. Conservation of the site will start once excavation work is complete.
Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2015
Newly-discovered structure baffles archaeologists - Pakistan - DAWN.COM
The Department of Archaeology and Museums (DOAM) had begun excavation work on the site in August.
Spreading over two to three kanals and camouflaged by tall grass, the site sits on top of a hill and is just a two hour hike away from the famous caves of Shah Allah Ditta, which are thought to be Buddhist remains.
The stone masonry work of a newly discovered structure is identical to that found in Buddhist ruins in the ancient Taxila Valley, but experts cannot make out what the structure is.
Dr Farooq Swati, who has a PhD in Gandhara Art and Architecture and was invited to visit the site to give his expert opinion, said the structure was not a stupa or a watchtower.
“After preliminary analysis, we can safely say that it was built somewhere between the first to second and fourth century AD. We will have to dig more to establish what the structure is. All I can say right now is that it is a rare site,” he said, adding that the top of the site might have been destroyed.
He said the structure might have been purposely built on top of the Margalla Hills, right between the Taxila Valley and the Potohar region. It sits in an ancient route which was used by pilgrims and trade caravans, and remains in use.
The stone masonry is similar to the Bhamala Stupa in Taxila, the Bhallar Stupa in Khanpur and the masonry of the Dharmarajika in Taxila. All of these have also been categorised as world heritage sites.
The fact that it is close to the famous Giri Stupa in Taxila, which is also a world heritage site, raises the importance of this newly excavated site. The deputy director of the Department of Archaeology, Ghafoor Lone, who is leading the excavation project at Ban Fakiran said the site is likely to make the federal capital ‘historically rich’.
“The remains of Ban Fakiraan are located some three kilometers from the Giri Stupa, which could mean that this too is a significant Buddhist site,” said Mr Lone, who has also been part of other important excavations, like those at Jinnan Wali Dheri and Badalput in Taxila and some in Balochistan.
He explained that the structure was roughly ten square meters with another section attached to it which was about 16 meters long.
Archaeologists think one of the structures could be the first mosque built in the Ghaznavi period. Other artefacts have also been found at the site, including six copper coins with impression of Kushan kings such as Vima Kadphises, who is known to have issued an extensive series of coins. Four iron arrowheads were also discovered during the excavation, which is still in progress and will extend to a nearby water tank and mosque, also from historical times. Conservation of the site will start once excavation work is complete.
Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2015
Newly-discovered structure baffles archaeologists - Pakistan - DAWN.COM
