Archaeologists in Pakistan’s northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) have discovered a number of ancient Buddhist sculptures and heads during an excavation in the Haripur region. K-P’s director of archaeology and museums Dr. Abdul Samad, who participated in the dig, explained that the sculptures and heads were uncovered during an excavation at the Buddhist stupa known as Bhamala Buddhist Complex, near Khanpur (Dawn). They are believed to date from the 2nd to 5th century. Dr. Samad further revealed that several precious coins from the Kushan period were also found at the site.
A Buddhist sculpture discovered at the Bhamala Buddhist site. From Dawn
The Bhamala Buddhist Complex was first excavated by British archaeologist Sir John Marshall (1876–1958) during the late 1920s and early 1930s, but was never fully explored, mainly due to the volatile political situation and the lack of law and order in the area. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980. In 2010, the protection of the site was transferred from the federal government to the Department of Archaeology and Museums of the government of K-P, as part of the provincial autonomy package.
Then, in 2013, a major two-year collaborative research project was initiated by the Archaeological Research and Conservation Program: India and Pakistan (ARCPIP), funded by the US State Department and in collaboration with the Department of Archaeology, Hazara University, in K-P’s Mansehra District.
Archeaologists working at the Bhamala excavation site. From The Express Tribune
In a written report by Dr. Samad, quoted in The Express Tribune, he declared that, “the project’s findings will help with current limitations in the understanding of both archaeological and historical aspects of the site.” One of the ARCPIP’s main aims was to find evidence for a range of periods and to construct a chronology for the settlement, thus identifying the “broad character of the Buddhist settlement in this remote valley.” The Express Tribune article further quotes Dr. Samad as saying, “We have discovered evidence of past settlements on the site. According to our team of experts, Bhamala was used by Buddhists hundreds of years ago; this is the first time an archaeologist can definitively say this.” The ARCPIP project also examined cultural developments in “Buddhist archaeology in the subcontinent, looked into its impact and connections with its border regions, such as greater Gandhara and Kashmir Valley, the spread of Buddhism, and Buddhist art and architecture in and around Taxila.”
A sculpture found at the Bhamala excavation site. From The Express Tribune
A four-month-long training and capacity-building program for undergraduates from various institutions and field staff from the directorate of archaeology and museums has recently been set up at Bhamala, as a way to ensure archaeological excavators are kept up to date with the latest techniques and methods of excavation. According to the online magazine Dawn, Dr. Samad disclosed that, “The leading foreign scholars and archaeologists belonging to United States and UK have offered to extend services in the training program.”
Dr. Samad is confident that “Bhamala is a peaceful place” and claims that security in the area is not a major concern. This has enabled the archaeologists to focus on their fieldwork. He added that the team is “planning to extend the scope of the research and undertake more excavation work in the area” (The Express Tribune).