TAXILA, April 5: For the first time in the archaeological history of Pakistan, a hand-made painting on stucco plaster, dating between 3rd and 5th century AD, has been recovered from the ruins of a monastery, locally called Jinna Wali Dehri, about 18km from here near Khanpur.

The painting, believed to be depicting Lord Buddha surrounded by his followers, is in blue shade with a tinge of yellow colour. The discovery was made by an archaeology department team that had been excavating the site for the last two years.

The experts believe that the painting was originally made on a wall of a monastery, but it collapsed and broke into over three dozen pieces when the White Huns conquered the ancient city of Taxila and torched the monastery and stupa. The excavators have collected all the pieces and sent them to the Taxila Museum, where experts are busy putting them back together again.

When contacted, archeology department deputy director and in charge of Taxila Museum Dr Mohammad Ashraf Khan confirmed that the department had discovered a painting during the recent excavations at the site. He said it was a "fresco painting on stucco".

However, he said the painting was in depilated form and being studied by the experts of the department. He said it could not be exposed to the media and public till complete findings, study and restoration work.

Dr Khan also maintained that it was for the first time in the archaeological history of the country that a painting had been discovered during excavations. He said in the past, excavators discovered paintings of Gandhara civilization in China and central Asian states, but this recent discovery was the first of its kind in Pakistan.

According to sources in the archaeology department, the excavations at the site of Buddhist religious complex, called Jinna Wali Dehri, started in November 2001. After four months excavations, remains of a monastery and a stupa were discovered. About 30 antiquities were recovered, including a Buddha head in stucco, stone and pottery pieces, shell bangles, shells, iron pieces and mill stones.

The sources said the ancient site was first discovered in 1870 by the then director-general of archaeology and museums, Gen Kningham. Later, conservation work was carried out at the site in 1919 by the then director-general of archaeology and museum, Sir John Marshall. Since then, the site remained abandoned due to lack of funds.