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Featured Pakistan: The Archaeological Marvel

Dr. Ahmad Hasan Dani

Born on June 20, 1920, in Basna, located in the modern Indian state of Chhattisgarh – then a part of Central Provinces, British India – Ahmad Hasan Dani was more of a polymath than an archaeologist. The prominent scholar graduated in Sanskrit – reportedly with distinction – from Banaras Hindu University, located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, in 1944. Dr. Dani himself used to recall that since he was a Muslim and the university was essentially for Hindus, he had to – at times – sit outside the classroom to listen to his teacher’s lectures. Hard work paid off and he won a gold medal from his department and subsequently started teaching there.

It is hard to pick highlights from Dr. Dani’s illustrious career. A master of fifteen languages, Dr. Dani also worked with Sir Mortimer Wheeler in 1945 on the-then unknown Indus site of Mohenjo-Daro. He was the one who uncovered many mysteries of this great civilization, declaring that it was right at par with the celebrated ancient civilizations of Egypt and Mesopotamia. Many of the most popular artefacts associated with the Indus Civilization – such as the dancing girl with bangles – were studied by him. Never one to conform, Dr. Dani opposed the idea that the modern inhabitants of South India were descendants of the occupants of the Indus Valley, driven southward by the Aryans.

But the Indus Valley Civilization was not his only forte – Dr. Dani studied Pakistan’s Buddhist sites, too, and co-authored an extensive work on the history of Central Asia,History of Civilizations of Central Asia, printed by UNESCO. He also co-edited the massive study, History of Humanity, published by Routledge, and wrote a history of Pakistan’s northern areas up till A.D. 2000. Dr. Dani’s scholarly curiosity evidently knew no bounds.

Dr. Ahmad Hasan Dani passed away on January 26, 2009, while he was serving as the external director of Taxila Institute of Asian Civilizations, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad. During his lifetime, he introduced the archaeology department in University of Peshawar, established the school of social sciences in Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, inaugurated the Islamabad Museum, and was awarded the Hilal-i-Imtiaz. His contributions to academia and culture would never be forgotten.
 
Dr. Mohammad Rafique Mughal

Another feather in Pakistan archaeology’s cap is Dr. Mohammad Rafique Mughal, former Director General of Archaeology & Museums, Government of Pakistan. Dr. Rafique Mughal’s expertise is quite different from that of Dr. Dani, but, nonetheless, equally valuable to Pakistani cultural studies.

Born in 1936 in Gujranwala, Punjab, Dr. Mughal is an alumni of the Department of History, University of the Punjab, where he received his Master’s degree, and that of University of Pennsylvania, where he received his PhD. On his brief yet informative website (www.rafiquemughal.com), Dr. Mughal states heritage conservation, archaeology of Buddhism and Islam and civilizations of Central and South Asia as his main professional interests. His lengthy and illustrious career includes conducting dozens of excavations across Pakistan, including one with Sir Mortimer Wheeler in Charsadda, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

However, Dr. Mughal’s most important contribution to archaeological and cultural study – especially that of Pakistan – is his efforts for the conservation of heritage sites. Serving as the Director of Archaeology, Government of Punjab for 9 years, and as the Director General of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Pakistan for 3 years, Dr. Mughal has had a big hand in the preservation of Pakistan’s ancient monuments – something that Pakistanis aren’t exactly fond of. Monuments that he has worked on include Lahore Fort, Wazir Khan Mosque, Shalimar Gardens, Buddhist monasteries and stupas in Taxila and Swat Valley and the architectural remains of Harappa. It is not a wonder, then, that the Government of Bahrain hired him as an archaeological advisor in 1980 – perhaps because his own country could not value his heroic contributions to academia and cultural heritage?

After holding many university positions across the globe, Dr. Rafique Mughal currently serves as Professor Emeritus of Archaeology at Boston University, MA, United States.
 
Dr. Salima Ikram

Born in 1965 in Lahore, the turning point of Dr. Ikram’s life came when she visited Egypt at the age of 9. Struck by the country and its ancient monuments – especially a tour inside Khufu’s Pyramid – the young Salima was so captivated that she decided to make Egyptology her career – if not her life. She subsequently went on to study Egyptology and Archaeology at Bryn Mawr University, Pennsylvania, where she received a Bachelors (A.B.) in Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology and History. Subsequently, she went to the University of Cambridge to earn herself a doctorate.
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No holds barred: Dr. Ikram, four feet underground, works at a site near Ain Dabashiya, Kharga, Egypt

Dr. Salima Ikram’s specialty is the faunal study of the Egyptian Civilization, particularly the mummification of animals. She has also worked with the National Geographic Society (see bio: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/explorers/bios/salima-ikram/) and has been teaching at The American University in Cairo, since 1995; she is currently a Professor of Egyptology at AUC. Other than authoring many research works, Dr. Ikram has also composed a number works for children including, In Ancient Egypt: Gods and Temples (1998), Pharaohs (1997), Land and People (1997) and Egyptology (1997). Her website, www.salimaikram.com, is a reservoir of Egyptology that everyone must pay a visit to.

http://www.thefridaytimes.com/tft/the-whos-who-of-archaeology-in-pakistan/
 
Historical building Haveli Bhuman Shah

Bhuman Shah Haveli is a historic building between Depalpur and Haveli Lakha which is still taking the last breath while holding history in its feet.

The carpenter on the colored walls, rotten dome and small brick wall is taking his last breath while losing his identity and soaking and waiting for the ancient archaeological path. If this historical heritage is still not paid attention to it, it will be much more. Mysteries and construction beauty will die its own death.

Depalpur is located 25 km from Okara. Depalpur is a very ancient city. Depalpur was inhabited by Sri Chand and was named Srinagar after his son Har Singh built a wall here and later. Azan his name became Depalpur. The current name of Depalpur is attributed to Deepa, son of Raja Salwahan. He rebuilt the city. In the covenant of Sikhs, Depalpur was a taluka. 1810 It was the property of the Nakai family until. After taking from the Nakai family, Kanwar Khark Singh and Sardar Jund Singh joined the client's property in 1928 He remained in his property until his death in 1840, Then his son Bella Singh became his successor.

He occupied the property until the British occupied Punjab. Here are the signs of many ancient buildings. The temple of Lalu Jasraj, the mosque built by the Wazir Khans of Shah Jahan era, the shrines of Imam Shah and Mahmood Shah. Notable. According to a report in 1919, this town was a tehsil of Sahiwal district (Montgomery). Now there is separate degree colleges for students, tehsil level courts, offices, branches of important national banks, Tehsil Headquarters. Hospitals are present in many high, middle and primary schools. Cotton, wheat, fold are the main agricultural products here while the city has many trade markets and markets. The old city is within three doors, Multani gate and North gate while many Modern settlements have been inhabited around them. Haveli Lakha is a city in Okara district, Punjab province, 158 km south of Lahore, according to the 2013 census, it has a population of 301,342 Was.

Haveli Lakha is located 18 km from the famous Head Sulemanki Head Works on the Sutlej River. The border of Head Sulemanki and Abharat is an important entertainment place here. Most of the furniture here. The work is also done.. Here, potatoes and corn production is the highest in terms of agricultural land.

This is a very peaceful and clean city. It is a railway station. It is available to travel from passenger kasur to Karachi. The city of Pakpattan is located 42 km from Haveli Lakha to Baba Fariduddin Ganj Shakar.

It is said that before Pakistan, there was a big palace of a king whose name was attributed to the haveli,..



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Before and After the Conservation work on the Tando Fazal which is Located in Hyderabad.
By the team of Antiquities & Archaeology Sindh.


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That is not how "renovation" is supposed to be done.
They also painted over ancient wall paintings.
 
Ranikot Fort is a historical Talpur fort near Sann, Jamshoro District, Sindh, Pakistan. Ranikot Fort is also known as The Great Wall of Sindh and is believed to be the world's largest fort, with a circumference of approximately 32 kilometres (20 mi). The fort's ramparts have been compared to the Great Wall of China.



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World's First Known University Taxila, Pakistan

Dharmarajika Stupa And Monastery, constructed in 3rd century BC, part of the eight shrines built by Emperor Ashoka.


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5000 years ago — there was a planned city of 50 thousand people — Mohenjo-daro

Persian king Darius annexed parts of Sind in 516 BC. Persians pronounced ‘Sind’ as ‘Hind’ — Alexander came to ‘Hind’ in 326 BC and Greeks rendered it as ‘Indós’ — which later became ‘Indië’ in European & English literature — concept of the ‘Three Indiës’ was in wide circulation in pre-industrial Europe.


Following the Portuguese expeditions, Dutch had a successful expedition to ‘East Indiës’ in 1596 AD — British, Dutch, Portuguese & Spanish East Indies Companies set out to establish ‘spice trade’ — resulting in colonization of ‘Three Indiës’.

‘Hind’ was known as ‘Hindustan’ throughout the ‘Mughal Era’ 1526 AD to 1857 AD. British East India Company was formed in 1600 AD to pursue trade with the ‘East Indiës’ but ended up trading with Hindustan and China only. British occupied parts of Subcontinent in the 17th century, and applied the Greek version of river “Sind” —Hind — Ind — Indós — Indië — “India” to whole country — thus India as a country-name is British invention. River Sind or Indus — through Persian, Greek & European influence — has given names to ‘Three Indiës’ — India, Indonesia & West Indies.

North of Subcontinent was always distinct throughout the history of Indus Valley — from Harappa & Mohenjo-daro to Mughal Era to British Raj upto modern-day Pakistan — this has been elaborated in detail by Senator Aitzaz Ahsan in his book ‘The Indus Saga’. Harappan civilization was distinct in language & culture from the rest of the Subcontinent. During Mughal era Kabul, Kashmir, Lahore, Multan, Thatta (Sindh) & Bengal were separate provinces.

Dr B. R. Ambedkar author of Indian Constitution writes in his book published in 1941 ‘Thoughts on Pakistan’ northern India is distinct — what Muslim League has demanded as Pakistan in 1940 resolution. He further writes that British Raj was considering to group Punjab, Sind, Baluchistan & NWFP as one administrative unit since early 1900s. Cabinet Mission Plan of 16 May 1946 to which Muslim League agreed initially stated that Muslim-majority provinces would be grouped, with Sind, Punjab, Baluchistan and North-West Frontier Province forming one group, and Bengal and Assam would form another.
 
Mound Dillu Roy: Maiden Archaeological Excavation To Begin In Jan 2020

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An archaeological excavation at Mound Dillu Roy, a Buddhist-era site in Dera Ghazi Khan district, is expected to begin from mid-Jan 2020 for the first time ever under an ongoing Rs 17.323 million project

MULTAN, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Dec, 2019 ) :An archaeological excavation at Mound Dillu Roy, a Buddhist-era site in Dera Ghazi Khan district, is expected to begin from mid-Jan 2020 for the first time ever under an ongoing Rs 17.323 million project.

The first component of the project i.e. construction of 6,400-foot long boundary wall to keep the site guarded against private persons' interventions was almost 90 per cent complete while the second component i.e. the archaeological exploration would be carried out by the department's only archaeologist Muhammad Hassan, who is the In-charge of Harappa museum, In-charge Archaeology Department Multan Malik Ghulam Muhammad told APP on Thursday.

"We can expect important discoveries of antiquities from the second century AD to 16th century AD," said archaeologist Hassan while talking to APP. He said that normally an excavation programme is completed in 45 days to two months but the duration can vary depending on the site. "We do it in a scientific way," said the archaeologist, who has many research papers and books on archaeology to his credit.

The process of excavation had to begin much earlier, but could not be started due to Hassan's unavailability due to an accident. "We will dig deeper to the last layer of soil to see which period and centuries old culture it points to," Hassan added.

The site is located exactly on the border line of Rajanpur and Dera Ghazi Khan districts. Major part of around 480-kanal site falls in district Dera Ghazi Khan and only three-kanal in tahsil Jampur of district Rajanpur.

A sum of Rs 10 million was utilised in fiscal year 2017-18 for construction of boundary wall; however, later the contractor went into litigation to challenge tax levies, leaving the wall incomplete. However, In-charge Multan archaeology said they were in talks with the contractor to complete the remaining almost 10 per cent work.

He said that remaining Rs 7 million would be utilised in 2019-20 to complete the project in all respects.

Ghulam Muhammad said the site was notified as protected in Feb 1964. A study carried out on the site and the ancient objects recovered so far revealed it was occupied by the Buddhists in the Scytho-Parthian period dating back to the 1st century BC to 2nd century AC.

It lies 2.5 miles north-west of tahsil Jampur and consists of two mounds, roughly 100-150 feet apart. The larger one measuring 1460x800x15 feet marks the site of the city and the smaller one about 380 feet North-South, 950-foot East-West has been identified as the remains of a fort.

Both the mounds have been dug by the local farmers and have thus exposed the plan of houses and streets. The mud brick walls have escaped complete destruction. Some of the walls with traces of mud plaster stand as high as 12 feet. At certain places, complete plan of rooms is traceable which varies from 5x5 feet to 15-10 feet. The study of the deep trenches dug by farmers has revealed two building period of the city.

The surface finds from Dillu Roy included a wide range of pottery, painted stamped, incised and sherds with applique decoration.

A few pottery mould with flower and leaf motifs have also been recovered. Other finds included sling balls, dabbers, oil lamps, spoon handles, terracotta wheels and animal figurines.

The specimens of bottle-necked sprinkles with curved flange and conical knob at the top are quite similar in all respects to the types recovered from the Scytho-Parthian levels of Banbhore, Taxila and Pitalkora (India) and they may be dated to 1st century BC to 2nd century AC.

The moulding representation of acanthus foliage, lotus petals and sunflowers carved in the most naturalistic style and burnt bricks decorated with flower and geometrical designs are all the characteristic representation of Buddhist culture.

Moreover, a terracotta object having circular umbrellas seems to represent a miniature Stupa.

A fragment of a plaque of red sand depicting a lady with high head dress and wearing ear-rings and a sculpture in white lime stone appears to be of a `Buddhisattva' wearing `Dhoti' and holding a `kamandali' (small bucket).

All these articles found from Mound Dillu Roy surface have been kept at the store of Harappa museum. However, Hassan said, more important finds from Gupta period, Kushan period, Ghauri period, Ghaznavid and other periods were expected once the team of 8-10 professionals equipped with relevant tools and gadgets embark on their first official excavation of mound Dillu Roy from mid Jan 2020.

https://www.urdupoint.com/en/pakistan/mound-dillu-roy-maiden-archaeological-excava-785592.html

Excavation of Buddhist site: Dillu Roy unveils ancient town planning

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MULTAN (APP) - Sandwiched between grandeur of Suleman mountain range and the might of roaring river Indus, the plain strip that runs through Dera Ghazi Khan division is believed to be hiding evidence and clues to Buddhist civilizations once surviving and thriving there.

This land has witnessed many Royal families, Kings, Rajas and Sardars and their ruined forts, cities and villages are hidden under the soil accumulated over centuries of human interventions and weather impact. Dillu Roy ruins awaited decades for excavation to tell the tales of the rise and fall of the dynasties of ancient times and the culture that prevailed then.

Mound Dillu Roy or Dillu Roy Ther (Ther being Seraiki equivalent of English word Ruins), dating back to the Buddhist era was declared a protected site in 1962 by Punjab archaeology department and it was in fiscal year 2017-18 when the government launched a Rs 17.323 million project to build a boundary wall around the Buddhist site ruins for protection from private collectors of artifacts and to undertake excavation.

The wall has almost been completed while a team of experts, led by the lone archaeologist of Punjab archaeology, deputy director south Muhammad Hassan, was assigned the task by director general archaeology Muhammad Ilyas Gill to excavate the site.

Dillu Roy is believed to be a prince who once ruled this area.

According to a myth narrated by noted travelogue writer Dr. Abbas Birmani in his book ‘Tilismati Wadiyan’ or ‘Magical Valleys’, Dillu Roy was a cruel ruler and the city faced destruction due to a curse from a woman. He described the ruins as ‘A speaking city asleep’.

It is located at the border line of DG Khan and Rajanpur districts, however, most part of the ruins lie in Kot Chutta tehsil of DG Khan and rest in tehsil Jampur of district Rajanpur.

However, it is nearer to Jampur i.e only eight (8) kilometres to its north west and 20 kilometres south of Kot Chutta.

The excavation began in Jan 2020 and concluded on Mar 20, 2020.

“It was a 45-day exercise, which, however, lasted for 52 days due to shortage of skilled workers”, the archaeologist said adding: “Fortunately its completion coincided the novel coronavirus lockdown but we were done with the project by that time.”

Hassan said that the contour of the mound was intact and the watch tower structure stands surviving on a cultural heritage site.

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The site covers almost 50 acre area and divided into two parts roughly 35-45 meters.

The excavation was undertaken on scientific lines on three selected points and 22 squares measuring 5×5 meters were opened.

Besides this, the ruins of fortification wall and other mud brick structures, occupational levels have been revealed in different squares under dug.

The archaeologist said that the vertical limited excavation of season 2020 has added new valuable information about Hindu-Shahi, Gupta, Sassaian, and Kushan dynasties which have been recorded in their chronological sequence. “It seems the most of the upper part of the mound was subjected to human vandalism and rain disturbed. Scanty cultural deposits of the last phase of this city were recorded. The diggings unveiled material evidence which helped link the missing gaps of the Gupta, Sassaians and Kushan periods, he said.

The excavation yielded a treasure of information and cultural material like pottery and small finds which belong to 2nd to 7th century AD.

Hassan said: “Though limited both in time and extent, the excavation produced some material relic of Brahmanical character in pre-Muslim levels, which in the absence of dateable evidence, can not be placed securely within the known dynastic division of Hindu India.”

The chronological sequence of Mound Dillu Roy can be compared with various sites in Gandhara like Taxila, Shaikhan Dheri, Badalpur, Kashmir Smast etc.

Excavation brought to light some 1370 small artefacts consisting of terracotta bowls, human moulds, animal and human figurines, terracotta beads, stone beads, grinding mill, iron and copper objects of household nature, shell bangles, glass and copper rings, bangles and amulets.

However, some of these deserve a special mention including a seated lion in gray schist stone panel depicting Jataka story, a terracotta Buddhist plaque and a clay female seated statue.

The typical Gandharan style small figure of lion’s (Simha) left side shows a sturdy lion in upright seated position.
However, right side of the lion is strikingly different and unusual. It represents episodes associated with the Buddha like Naga Apalala and episodes of the Visvantara Jataka.

The discovery of terracotta Buddhist plaque is also very interesting but unfortunately partly broken. These figures were drawn in Indian style which are well known from Mauryan and particularly Shunga period down to very late period.

The remarkable clay female seated statue was found at the depth of 42cm from thesurface on floor level. The mud clay the statue was in broken condition with its head, an arm and torso separated and it looked as if it was fixed in a wall or placed on a cornice at a reasonable height. “Most probably, this figure is Parvati due to her prominent breasts and third eye.”

Discovery of a thick deposit of clay bullae/sealings was unique. “More than 1000 clay bullaes were found and such type of sealings were commonly used for different purposes like official documents, private letters or personal seals, banker or merchant stamps, Buddhist codes for teaching and religious purposes.”

“These usually display personal names, and titles. The bullaes/sealings in different imprints and scripts, decorative burnt bricks, and inscribed baked bricks are of paramount archaeological interest”, the archaeologist said.

The discovery of he added.seals, tablets was made during surface collection. These seals depict human figure along with Brahmi script. Some figures are fascinating and provoke thoughts for further study. These are related to Indian and Greek mythologies. Many figures of these mythologies have been reported but stylistically these are new and different from the others,” he added.

Hassan said that the excavation season 2020 was helpful in finding new information and substantiated earlier assessments that it was Buddhist site from Sytho-Parthian era.

However, he added, the ruins still hold more information and vast potential for further excavation and more discoveries particularly the Sytho-Parthian and Greek periods.

 
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