Featured Pakistan: The Archaeological Marvel

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Anarkali's love triangle was Ist mentioned by British William Finch in 1611 at Lahore.
Edward Terry was 2nd person who wrote about Anarkali in Early Travels in India. Imtiaz Ali Taj influend by French historian Alain Desoulires research, fabricated the story in his play Anarkali.

Sobha Singh converted Anarkali's tomb into Police Station. Ranjit Singh made its garden's a military ground & shifted its marble to Amritsar. Kharak Singh was crowned in its gardens, his mother cremated there. Gen Ventura & Avitable lived in it. Was a British era office & church.

A relatively unknown British named Sir Thomas Herbert is the third person who mentions Anarkali. He briefly indicates that one of Akbar's favourite wives was named Pomegranate (Anar) who was harassed by Salim.

 

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'Authentic' artefacts: 'Talajah Fort was built around 2,000 years ago'

LAHORE: An archaeology team of the Punjab University has found 'authentic' artifacts that have suggested the historic Talajah Fort in Soon Valley was built around 2,000 years ago instead of 5,000 years. The artifacts came to light when an archaeology team of the PU Khushab chapter recently started work on the outskirts of tehsil Nowshera to discover archaeological and historical sites, artifacts and developing tourist points.

Punjab Archaeology Department Chairman Dr Muhammad Hameed said that according to local traditions, Talajah Fort was built 5,000 years ago but according to the preliminary research it was about 2,000 years old. He said the architecture of the houses and the artifacts discovered in Talajah Fort gave traces that the Muslim population was settled there.

"It is a presumption that archaeological and historical sites before the Muslim era in South Asia can also be discovered from Talajah Fort," Dr Hameed said in a statement issued on Sunday. He added that according to local tradition, Muslims lived in the Fort before the arrival of Jalaluddin Khwarazm, the ruler of Central Asia.

"An authentic statement can be possible after excavation and research of the residential block and rest of the city located at 22-acre of land in Talajah Fort," he said, adding that the discovery of the Fort can reveal many facts for the archaeologists besides promoting tourism.

According to Dr Hammed, the research team has also discovered engraved manuscript on the stone of Mehmood Ghaznavi era during an excavation in Nandana Fort. Commenting on the matter, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar said in a statement that discovery and preservation of thousands of years old archaeological and historical sites in Punjab are being carried out. "As a result of archaeologists' successful expedition, thousands of year's old authentic artifacts have been discovered from Talajah Fort in Soon Valley," he added.

According to the CM, the discovery of archaeological and historical sites and artifacts will help them in making Punjab "a tourism hub". He said the discovery of archaeology will attract foreign tourists and researchers in Pakistan and the local economy will be boosted by promoting tourism in the province.

'Authentic' artefacts: 'Talajah Fort was built around 2,000 years ago'

LAHORE: An archaeology team of the Punjab University has found 'authentic' artifacts that have suggested the ...

www.brecorder.com

 

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Renovation work is going on at 17th and 18th Century's Tombs Tilla Shah Necropolis by Sindh Govt .Minister culture.
These tombs belong to Mari Tribe who served for Kalhoras in Sindh.

 

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In 7th/8th century AD, walled city of Brahmanabad / Mansoora in Dist Sanghar Sindh.

The city was probably destroyed by an earthquake around 1020 AD.

This is the place where Quran Pak translated into Sindhi Language first time.

They had large trade with Baghdad.

 

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The city was probably destroyed by an earthquake around 1020 AD.

The city was destroyed by Mahmud Ghaznavi

 

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Kusak fort or Kusak Castle Chakwal

The fort was built in the 11th century by Raja Jodh, who was one of the sons of legendary Janjua Sultan, Raja Mall Khan Janjua who built the Malot Fort in 10th century. This fort stands at a mound in Kahoon Valley (the picturesque hilly terrain of Salt Range located between Kallar Kahar and Choa Syedan Shah) some 48km away to the south of Chakwal city and 25km to the southern-east of Kallar Kahar.

Keeping in view the constant threats of invasions, Raja Jodh used the best of his mind while constructing the Kusak Fort. The fort was built on 13 acres at the peak of the mountain which is also named as “Jodh Mountain”.

All the construction was done by local red stone and soil. A palace for the king was constructed in a traditional way on the premises of the fort while 70 houses were also built for the troops. The fort had two large gates at its northern site. Two ponds to store water were also built while as the majority of troops belonged to Hinduism, the king had also constructed temples for them. Warehouses were also built in the fort to store grains. A large wall measuring 370 feet in height was constructed around the fort.

 

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View of the ruins of Taxila in 1962................

 

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In Indus Valley Civilisation of Pakistan, different sporting activities existed since thousands of years. Hunting, bows & arrows, javeline, swimming, rowing, strategy games & dice were played. During Gandhara era wrestling, javeline & weight lifting events were also organised.

Ancient Cities of the Indus Valley Civilization by Mark Kenoyer,,

 

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Pakistan-Italy archaeological mission launches excavation season

DADU: Prof Valeria Fiorani Piacentini, who heads an Italian team of experts and holds the charge of scientific director of the Pakistan-Italian Archaeological Mission on Banbhore, held a meeting with Sindh Minister for Culture and Education Syed Sardar Ali Shah in his office on Friday.

Field Director of the mission Simone Mantellini accompanied her at the meeting, which was also attended by director general of the antiquities and archaeology department Manzoor Ahmed Kanasiro.

Prof Piacentini told the minister that she had been doing her personal research work on archaeological sites in this region for decades.

Describing the sites as “unique”, she said she had found evidence of relations between Makran and Sindh. Their width and breadth went up to Jeewani, she noted.



She informed the minister that her mission had started the ‘Excavation Season 2021’ which would continue till the last week of December.

“As usual, the excavation season will conclude with an awareness session, where all the technical details and findings of the excavation will be shared with people,” she said. This year, the mission was concentrating on the environmental and marine side of exploration, she added.

The culture minister said various aspects of Sindh’s archaeology and heritage sites were discussed at length with the Italian archaeologits at the meeting.

Sardar Shah said he told Prof Piacentini that his department had already submitted dossiers on Nagarparkar and Banbhore with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) for their inclusion in list of World Heritage Sites.

He appreciated the mission for making joint efforts with Sindh government in the archaeology and certain other fields. He expressed his confidence that the efforts would lead to many explorations and discoveries at Banbhore. He noted that the mission could not visit Sindh last year due the Covid-19 pandemic, and said he was now pleased to see the mission here to resume its work.

Mr Shah said his department was committed to publish all the research work on Banbhore found in various journals.

“One comprehensive book on Banbhore is need of the hour,” he said.

The minister said he told the delegation that the codal formalities were being prepared and detailed work regarding establishment of the ‘Institute of Heritage and Scientific Research at Bhanbhore’ was under way. This institute is being established in collaboration with the Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST), he said.

Prof Piacentini observed that the history of civilisation in the Sindh region seemed to be similar to that of Rome.

The culture minister presented some rare books on the history of Sindh to the mission.

Pakistan-Italy archaeological mission launches excavation season

DADU: Prof Valeria Fiorani Piacentini, who heads an Italian team of experts and holds the charge of scientific...

www.dawn.com

 

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New discoveries in Swat's ‘City of Alexander’ amaze explorers

Fazal Khaliq
November 19, 2021

An aerial view of Ghwandai top in Bazira, Barikot, Swat. — Dawn

SWAT: The archaeologists and cultural activists have said that the new explorations on the top of the ancient city of Bazira can attract tourists from around the world and boost cultural tourism.

They said that Italian archaeological mission in collaboration with department of archaeology unearthed bastions, walls and stairs of the fort of the Ghwandai hill in Barikot.


Dr Luca Maria Olivieri, the head of the mission who led the excavation campaign, said that the archaeologists discovered some of the grand bastions, towers, walls and amazing drain work on the top of Ghwandai in Bazira.

Govt asked to properly preserve Bazira to boost cultural tourism

Bazira is an ancient city in Barikot tehsil of Swat, popularly known as the ‘City of Alexander’. According to experts, it is a major archaeological site after Taxila.

Dr Michele Minardi, another Italian archaeologist who was part of the excavation team, said that since the top of Ghwandai hill was strategically important for the ancient Swat from where major parts of the valley were monitored, the new discovery was of great importance.

“After the new development, we can see four main round towers on the corners of the hillock, on top of which were a huge water tank, monitoring towers and other auxiliary structures that were probably built in the Kushan period and were used in Turk Shahi, Hindu Shahi and Ghaznavid periods,” he said.

Dr Minardi said that the new discovery helped them to understand the entire structure of the castle on the top. He said that the archaeologists found the entrance point to the top of the hill which was amazing.

Cultural activists said that Bazira was one of the important sites, not only of Swat but also of the entire country where grand structures of the ancient times were discovered.

“It is a huge site with tangible and intangible history. The government must install a protection wall around the site with proper pedestrian paved ways, stairs to the top of Ghwandai and resting areas for the visitors,” said Amjad Ali, a cultural activist in Swat.

He said that that the sites of Taxila, Takht Bhai, Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro were properly protected so Bazira must also be protected in the same way.

The cultural activists said that gates should be installed and an entry ticket should also be launched for the visitors.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2021



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First-Ever Detailed Documentary On Attock Fort

 

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Rohtas Fort Haveli Man Singh Jehlum, Pakistan

Man Singh, who died in 1614, was one of Emperor Akbar's most trusted generals. His haveli (mansion) at Rohtas Fort originally comprised four rooms, out of which only one survives. The remaining room is approximately 5.5 meters square and is notable for its two balconies on the eastern and southern facades.

Each is supported by four brackets with a garuda motif, and surmounted by a three level canopy. The main chamber is domed with a lotus shaped finial on the roof.

 

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Naal, Pakistan is 2nd richest archaeological site where big discoveries were made.

Excavated by Harold Hargreaves in 1924-25. Its cultural profile dates to 4300-3700 BC.
Lot many clay/stone structures of houses, weapons, jewellery, pottery, figurines etc were excavated from Naal.

 

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Shri Swami Narayan Temple, Karachi is a Hindu temple which is the only Swami Narayan Temple in Pakistan.

The temple is notable for its size of more than 32,306 square yards (27,012 m2) on M. A. Jinnah Road in Karachi city. The temple celebrated its 216th anniversary in April 2004.
It is believed that not only Hindus but also followers of Islam visit the temple, which adds to its significance. There is a sacred cow shed in the premises of this temple.
The temple is located in the center of a Hindu neighborhood in Karachi. The building which used to be a Dharamshala (guest house) for the visiting devotees has now been converted into an office of the City District Government.