Papers by Abdul G H A F O O R LONE
Journal of Asian Civilizations, 2021
Among the many flourishing Buddhist complexes in the Taxila Valley, the
Badalpur monastic comple... more Among the many flourishing Buddhist complexes in the Taxila Valley, the
Badalpur monastic complex seems to be one of the largest, spreading over an
extensive area of 2.9 acres (1.17 hectares) on the left bank of the Haro River,
around 10 km north-east of Taxila Museum. The Badalpur complex could
accommodate at a time more monks and pilgrims than any other monastery in
the vicinity. Small scale salvage excavations were first undertaken at this site by
V. Natesa Aiyar but with no significant findings in term of artifacts. However,
more extensive excavations carried out by the Department of Archaeology and
Museums, Government of Pakistan from 2005 to 2009 provided scholars with
plenty of artifacts for them to study, and revealed that actually the site consists of
two separate monasteries, obviously to accomodate the needs of the growing
community of monks and pilgrims. Amongst the most notable findings, the
Badalpur complex preserved a Buddha statue of Mathuran style in dhyanamudra
carved in red sandstone. Some important and unique details of this precious
sculpture are missing in earlier descriptions, as well as those details useful to
tentatively date this sculpture. This paper aims at outlining: (a) the links between
Taxila and Mathura regions during the peak period of Buddhism, (b) reassess the
details visible on the sculpture, and (c) to attempt to date our Buddha figure
through comparisons with similar known Mathuran Sculptures. This preliminary
assessment paves the way to further research.
Journal of Asian Civilizations, 2017
The Harappan settlement of Chanhu Daro in Sindh was still considered in
the 80s, after Moenjodar... more The Harappan settlement of Chanhu Daro in Sindh was still considered in
the 80s, after Moenjodaro and Harappa, as the third major excavated
Harappan town in South Asia. Although nowadays the list of Harappan
settlements is far longer, the importance of Chanhu Daro for the study of
craft specialization is not diminuished. The present article deals with a
recent surface reconnaissance at the site, carried out more than 30 years
after the last fieldwork by M. Vidale and G.M. Sher
Journal of Asian Civilizations, 2022
The objective of this paper is to highlight four masterpieces of Harappan mirrors in the collecti... more The objective of this paper is to highlight four masterpieces of Harappan mirrors in the collection of the National Museum of Pakistan in Karachi. The origin of those mirrors from Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro and side by side an attempt is made to locate the present location of other mirrors elsewhere.
Journal of the Punjab University Historical Society, 2018
Modern city of Islamabad is one of the oldest living inhabitants in the world. Islamabad has the ... more Modern city of Islamabad is one of the oldest living inhabitants in the world. Islamabad has the complete sequence and archaeological findings of Stone Age life showing a continuity of man in this region from the early Stone Age. Geographically, Islamabad remained the natural bearer and defensive zone of Rawalpindi against north western boarders and invaders. Buddhist site of Ban Faqiran, is the oldest historical monument discovered in Islamabad. Archaeological remains of Ban Faqiran and the oldest mosque in Islamabad are perched atop on Margalla hills. Federal Department of Archaeology and museums carried out a comprehensive and fruitful excavation at the site and exposed the buried cultural heritage of Buddhist era and a mosque of Muslim dynasty. Besides structural remains, rare copper coins, iron arrow heads and pot shreds discovered. 1
Journal of the Research society of Pakistan, 2021
Ancient Taxila is famous for the production of stone construction material and stone sculptures. ... more Ancient Taxila is famous for the production of stone construction material and stone sculptures. 2 There are many stone artefacts reported from Taxila valley during, more than last hundred years. 3 Besides the stone architectural elements, sculptures, there is a large collection of utensils and other articles of daily use unearthed from Bhir Mound and Sirkap. 4 (Marshall 1951, Vol.II.:476) Most of artefact unearthed from early levels of archaeological sites in Taxila valley comprises pivot-stones, querns, mullers, pestles, mortars and grinding mills. Household vessels of various kinds, lamps, toilet trays and vases, burnishers, palettes, spindle whorls, potter's konoras and thatwas, amulets and sacred ring stones, moulds, stone for incrustation and inlay work and a few miscellaneous pieces such as knife handles and dies besides finger rings, seals, gems. 5 Locally available limestone was not encouraging medium for the production of small articles even kanjur was never used at all for small objects but mostly making the inner core of structure and some stucco heads discovered from Apsidal temple Sirkap. There for the soft stone or semi-precious stone used for production of artefacts either imported in raw shape from their respective provenances, located outside of Taxila valley or received in form of gift and donation. 6 (Fig.I Map)
Ancient Punjab, 2020
Ancient metropolitan, Takṣasila, presently called Taxila is an important world Heritage site loca... more Ancient metropolitan, Takṣasila, presently called Taxila is an important world Heritage site located in northwest of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Archaeological remains of ancient metropolitan are scattered in two provinces of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Ancient Taxila was situated at the key junction of the Indian subcontinent and Central Asia. Taxila remained under the administrative control of the Achaemenid Empire in the 6 th century BCE, and successively ruled by Mauryan Empire, Indo-Greek, Indo-Scythian, and Kushan.
Archaeopress Publishing Ltd Summertown Pavilion 18-24 Middle Way Summertown Oxford OX2 7LG www.archaeopress.com, 2019
Proceedings of the Second International
Workshop of the Gandhāra Connections Project,
University ... more Proceedings of the Second International
Workshop of the Gandhāra Connections Project,
University of Oxford, 22nd-23rd March, 2018
Varia Collection containing those objects which were presented to Italian Mission during their ar... more Varia Collection containing those objects which were presented to Italian Mission during their archaeological research in Swat Valley Pakistan. Prof.G.Tucci, president of the Italian Institute for the Middle and Far-East (Istituto Italiano per il Medio ed Estremo Oriente, IsMEO), lunched an accurate survey in 1955-56 to select the sites i.e Udigram and Butkara near Mingora, to be excavated . Since then Italian Archaeological Mission is working in Swat Valley Pakistan,
"Varia" stands for the "various" because this collectionwas not from a specific site so it termed Varia Collection, i.e collection from various sites in Swat Valley. It is very important to study it because it is from every neck and corner of Swat Valley, so it is very comprehensive to elaborate and evaluate the History of the region specially Role of Buddhist art in Swat valley and its penetration in Gandhara. Here I just summarize the narrative reliefs of Buddhist art in the collection. It is a god opportunity to have comparative study of Buddhist Art in Swat and Gandhara.
Drafts by Abdul G H A F O O R LONE
Frontier Archaeology, 2016
Journal of Asian Civilization , 2016
This paper deals with the study of rare narrative reliefs from Gandhara, collected by Italian mis... more This paper deals with the study of rare narrative reliefs from Gandhara, collected by Italian mission in Swat Valley, during 1956-2003. These Narrative reliefs are a part of " Varia Collection " which has been collected from different sites in Swat Valley besides few purchased from Peshawar and Dir. This collection comprises variety of different material. Tucci, president of the Italian Institute for the Middle and Far-East (Istituto Italiano per il Medio ed Estremo Oriente, IsMEO), lanched a precise survey in 1955-56 and selected different the sites to excavate.2 First Sermon is an important event in the historic life of Buddha and its illustration in Buddhist art of Gandhara is also very frequent. Depiction of the First Sermon by Buddha, in standing pose of is not only rare but also novel.
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Papers by Abdul G H A F O O R LONE
Badalpur monastic complex seems to be one of the largest, spreading over an
extensive area of 2.9 acres (1.17 hectares) on the left bank of the Haro River,
around 10 km north-east of Taxila Museum. The Badalpur complex could
accommodate at a time more monks and pilgrims than any other monastery in
the vicinity. Small scale salvage excavations were first undertaken at this site by
V. Natesa Aiyar but with no significant findings in term of artifacts. However,
more extensive excavations carried out by the Department of Archaeology and
Museums, Government of Pakistan from 2005 to 2009 provided scholars with
plenty of artifacts for them to study, and revealed that actually the site consists of
two separate monasteries, obviously to accomodate the needs of the growing
community of monks and pilgrims. Amongst the most notable findings, the
Badalpur complex preserved a Buddha statue of Mathuran style in dhyanamudra
carved in red sandstone. Some important and unique details of this precious
sculpture are missing in earlier descriptions, as well as those details useful to
tentatively date this sculpture. This paper aims at outlining: (a) the links between
Taxila and Mathura regions during the peak period of Buddhism, (b) reassess the
details visible on the sculpture, and (c) to attempt to date our Buddha figure
through comparisons with similar known Mathuran Sculptures. This preliminary
assessment paves the way to further research.
the 80s, after Moenjodaro and Harappa, as the third major excavated
Harappan town in South Asia. Although nowadays the list of Harappan
settlements is far longer, the importance of Chanhu Daro for the study of
craft specialization is not diminuished. The present article deals with a
recent surface reconnaissance at the site, carried out more than 30 years
after the last fieldwork by M. Vidale and G.M. Sher
Workshop of the Gandhāra Connections Project,
University of Oxford, 22nd-23rd March, 2018
"Varia" stands for the "various" because this collectionwas not from a specific site so it termed Varia Collection, i.e collection from various sites in Swat Valley. It is very important to study it because it is from every neck and corner of Swat Valley, so it is very comprehensive to elaborate and evaluate the History of the region specially Role of Buddhist art in Swat valley and its penetration in Gandhara. Here I just summarize the narrative reliefs of Buddhist art in the collection. It is a god opportunity to have comparative study of Buddhist Art in Swat and Gandhara.
Drafts by Abdul G H A F O O R LONE
Badalpur monastic complex seems to be one of the largest, spreading over an
extensive area of 2.9 acres (1.17 hectares) on the left bank of the Haro River,
around 10 km north-east of Taxila Museum. The Badalpur complex could
accommodate at a time more monks and pilgrims than any other monastery in
the vicinity. Small scale salvage excavations were first undertaken at this site by
V. Natesa Aiyar but with no significant findings in term of artifacts. However,
more extensive excavations carried out by the Department of Archaeology and
Museums, Government of Pakistan from 2005 to 2009 provided scholars with
plenty of artifacts for them to study, and revealed that actually the site consists of
two separate monasteries, obviously to accomodate the needs of the growing
community of monks and pilgrims. Amongst the most notable findings, the
Badalpur complex preserved a Buddha statue of Mathuran style in dhyanamudra
carved in red sandstone. Some important and unique details of this precious
sculpture are missing in earlier descriptions, as well as those details useful to
tentatively date this sculpture. This paper aims at outlining: (a) the links between
Taxila and Mathura regions during the peak period of Buddhism, (b) reassess the
details visible on the sculpture, and (c) to attempt to date our Buddha figure
through comparisons with similar known Mathuran Sculptures. This preliminary
assessment paves the way to further research.
the 80s, after Moenjodaro and Harappa, as the third major excavated
Harappan town in South Asia. Although nowadays the list of Harappan
settlements is far longer, the importance of Chanhu Daro for the study of
craft specialization is not diminuished. The present article deals with a
recent surface reconnaissance at the site, carried out more than 30 years
after the last fieldwork by M. Vidale and G.M. Sher
Workshop of the Gandhāra Connections Project,
University of Oxford, 22nd-23rd March, 2018
"Varia" stands for the "various" because this collectionwas not from a specific site so it termed Varia Collection, i.e collection from various sites in Swat Valley. It is very important to study it because it is from every neck and corner of Swat Valley, so it is very comprehensive to elaborate and evaluate the History of the region specially Role of Buddhist art in Swat valley and its penetration in Gandhara. Here I just summarize the narrative reliefs of Buddhist art in the collection. It is a god opportunity to have comparative study of Buddhist Art in Swat and Gandhara.