New Buddhist site discovered at Taxila

Monday, November 24th, 2008

TAXILA, Nov 23: Archaeologists have discovered different pieces of sculptures dating back to 3rd - 5th century AD during excavation and preservation of Jinnan Wali Dehri Buddhist Monastery and Stupa, about 13 kilometers north of Taxila.The Deputy Director of Archeology and incharge of the Archeological department Taxila, Mr. Mohammad Bahadur Khan said the Jinnan Wali Dehri site on the left bank of Haro River was destroyed by white Huns in 6th century AD. It became a victim of illegal diggers and treasurer hunters after partition. Even though the diggers and treasure hunters did a lot of escavation and took a lot of materia, an area between the main stupa court and the monastery remained intact. Recently during excavation of a votive stupa adorned with eight stucco sculptures was unearthed around the stupa.

The base of this 3×3 metre votive stupa was also badly damaged by the white Huns, the destroyers of the Gandhara civilization who came from the west between 6th to 8th centry. The chinese pilgrims described that they burned the monastries and killed the monks and Sculptures.

On the east, west, south and north, three stucco sculptures adorned on all directions. Upper parts of all the sculptures were damaged but the lower parts, from the lap, survived. These sculptures of Buddha are seated in different poses i.e Dhiyan Mudra (Meditantion) and Bhmesphara Mudra (touching the earth). Two heads on Indra and Brhman were also discovered from the south-eastern edge of the main stupa court.

Talking to this correspondent, the head of the excavation and preservation team, Abdul Ghafoor Lone, said for the first time the department had excavated the site during 2002-2004 and discovered 17 cells of this Buddhist monastery and stupa. He said a remarkable discovery made at this site was a Buddhist mural painting which he claimed was for the first time discovered from any site in Pakistan. This was a handmade painting on stucco plaster believed to be depicting Lord Buddha surrounded by his followers. Other discoveries included fair quantity of minor antiquities like coins of the Kushan dynasty including Kanishka, Vasudeva, Kidara Kushans and one silver coin of the White Huns; glass and shell bangles, stone and terracotta beads, earthenware storage jars, bowls and small spouted pots, metal objects consisting of large copper bells, iron aero heads, fragments of daggers and spearheads and nails, stucco heads of Buddha and Bodhisattva.

Keeping in view the importance and significance of this site, the US government through its cultural wing at the Islamabad embassy has approved a grant of $31000 for the restoration, conservation, preservation and publication of the site. He said the project would be completed by December.

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International Buddhit Conference at Moen Jo Daro in November

Sunday, June 22nd, 2008

The federal ministry of tourism has planned an International Buddhist conference in November this year to highlight the history of the region with special focus on Moenjodaro Federal Secretary of Tourism Shahzad Qaisar Sindhu stated this while talking to journalists during his visit to Moenjodaro here on Friday.He said in past this huge archaeological site had been ignored. While drawing similarities between the Indus Civilisation and the Gandhara Civilisation he said that it should be introduced on wider level to attract tourists especially from Japan and Korea.  He said a group of 100 tourists from across the world would visit Moenjodaro during the Buddhist conference where he said a motel that lacked facilities would be upgraded.

He announced a grant of Rs1 million for meeting the urgent needs of the motel.  He admitted that the separation of culture and tourism departments at federal level had affected the development projects despite similarities in the nature of their jobs.

He, however, stressed the need of coordinated efforts to bridge this gap. In reply to a question regarding the second phase of Moenjodaro Master Plan he said he would contact the secretary culture in Islamabad and would also contact PIA for making efforts to increase flights to Moenjodaro to provide easy access to the international tourists to visit the place.

He said that the National Bank of Pakistan would reopen its branch at Moenjodaro with foreign exchange counter. On the occasion he announced confirming three employees of motel in services.

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