pak track: Buddhist Sculptures Discovered in Haripur Pakistan.

PAKISTAN: Archaeologists have discovered Buddhist sculptures

and heads during the excavation in Haripur district.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa archaeology and museums directorate

director Dr Abdul Samad on Friday said sculptures and heads

dating back to second to fifth century AD had been discovered

during excavation at Buddhist stupa known as Bhamala Buddhist

Complex near Khanpur.

He said during excavation, precious coins of Kushan period were

also found around the stupa.

Dr Samad said the Bhamala archaeological site had been declared

national and world heritage site located near Khanpur dam.

He said the ruins dated back to fourth century BC.

“The ruins are situated near Khanpur dam. The stupa is cross-

shaped and looks like an Aztec Pyramid,” he said.

The director said the Bhamala site was partially excavated in early

1930 by Sir Jan Marshal.

He said fresh excavation at the archeological site had been initiated

by the Hazara University, Mansehra.

Dr Samad said during excavation done by archaeologists,

conservators, diggers, and treasury hunters, mostly terracotta

sculptures had been discovered.

He said a training and capacity building programme for students

and field staffs of the directorate of archaeology and museums had

initiated at the field training school (Bhamala) to inform

archaeological excavators about the latest techniques and methods

of excavation.

The director said more than 50 participants, including students of

various educational institutions, took part in the training, which

would continue for months at the field training school. He said the

first batch had so far completed training.

“The leading foreign scholars and archaeologists belonging to

United States and UK have offered to extend services in the

training programme,” he said.

Dr Samad said the capacity building training programme lasted

four-months in which more than 50 members of field staffs, mostly

archaeologists, conservators, draftsmen, conservation assistants,

photographers and students of archaeology from various

educational institutions participated.

He said a survey had been initiated of different archaeological sites

in Buner district.

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