KARACHI, June 6: Informative presentations and speeches made a conference on ‘Italian Archaeology in Pakistan – Past and Present’ an educative event at the National Museum Auditorium on Monday.

The moot was organised by the consulate of Italy in collaboration with the provincial department on antiquities and the department of culture to mark the anniversary of the Italian Republic and 150 years of Italian Unification.

Former federal minister and MNA Zubaida Jalal Kurd was the special guest at the conference.

The main session of the conference began with Dr Prof Valeria Fiorani Piacentini’s presentation on ‘The Cattolica University Research in Balochistan and Sindh (1987-2011): From the Green Belt to the Harbour Town of Banbhore’.

From the outset, she made it clear that historical accounts were just as important as (modern) technological approaches to finding out material about archeological sites. She read out a few passages from historical versions delineating the difficult terrain, torrid climate and lunar landscape of the Makran region, tracing it back to the time of Alexander the Great.

In a later account Makran was described as a land with harsh terrain but fertile land, with deep gorges, canals and a lush green belt — a natural axis for west-east communication.

She particularly emphasised the bastions and fortresses in the area, indicating that it played a major military role in the past. To support her argument she referred to Tump the Fort and the site of Miri Qalat. She talked about the trade activities that must’ve taken place there through the lush Green Belt, citing the presence of jewels, embroidered clothes, precious and semiprecious stones, lapis lazuli, sapphire, diamonds, ivory, silk, brocade (from China), beautiful girls and graceful young men.

Prof Valeria discussed the operation level, which included archeology, history, anthropology and ethno-anthropology of the zone. She talked about the archeological soundings on selected sites to solve chronological problems and added that excavations and stratigraphic studies were undertaken in Turbat and Makran. She said the region was inhabited and settled six millennia before Christ, and that there must’ve been a facility to export the different material. She said that in the first millennium before Christ Makran faced resettlement.

On Banbhore, Prof Valeria touched upon the French-Italian-Pakistani project, accepting Banbhore as a possible search for a giant harbour town. With the help of images, she showed the deltaic area of the Indus, the oldest mosque, etc.

The second important presentation of the conference came from Dr Luca M. Olivieri on ‘IsMEO-IsIAO Archeological Mission to Pakistan (1955-2011): Past Research and Present Challenges’.

He looked back on the Italian mission’s association with reference to Pakistan and said from 1955 it was engaged in archeological projects, with the major undertaking being in the Swat Valley. He said Italy’s was the first mission in Pakistan, active since 1966. After briefly mentioning the joint venture at Mohenjodaro, exploration of Rohri Hills, architectural studies in Punjab, he largely focused on Swat and the different kinds of archeological work that had taken place in the valley.

He shed light on the third oldest mosque in the country in Udegram, late Buddhist rock structures and the 49 painted shelters. He said that in 2008 the Swat Museum was partially damaged by a severe explosion when the valley was suffering from a terrible phase of violence. However, the mission never abandoned its activities and the reconstruction process was over. He also briefed the audience on the current projects of the mission.

Zubaida Jalal Kurd, in her speech, went down memory lane telling the audience about her first meeting with Prof Valeria Fiorani Piacentini.

She said culture, history and tradition could go together. She said in her course of friendship with the professor she found out that Pakistanis and Italians shared family values. On a lighter note, pointing out the work that Prof Valeria was doing, she said in Punjgur (Balochistan) people had been coming and offering their prayers because Punjgur meant five graves. One day Prof Valeria told them, by virtue of her research, that those were not the gravesites of Muslims, but of Zoroastrians.

Ms Jalal said when in 2001 she was the minister for education she reviewed the textbooks and tried to bring back the subject of Pakistan studies into the fold of geography and history. Despite having hurdles in the way, she and her team were able to put some part of history in perspective. She thanked the Italian government for assisting in the different archeological ventures.

She said there were amazing sites in Balochistan, and particularly mentioned an old building in Turbat because it had been her dream to turn that structure into a museum. After the passing of the 18th amendment, she said, it shouldn’t be that difficult.

In the introductory session, secretary for the Sindh culture department Abdul Aziz Uqaili welcomed the guests to the conference. The consul of Italy in Karachi, Roberto Franceschinis, extended his gratitude to the hosts of the moot and said he was happy that the event was taking place on the occasion of 150 years of Italian unification.

Secretary for the antiquities department Dr Kaleemullah Lashari gave a presentation on the need for international collaboration on archeological issues, with special reference to Banbhore.

Ambassador of Italy Vincenzo Prati highlighted the importance of Pakistan-Italy friendship. On the subject of the relevance of 150 years of unification and archeology, he said Pakistan was a very important country with its Indus valley being one of the centerpieces of Euro-Asian culture.

He said Pakistan had a bright future.

In the end Dr Asma Ibrahim, director of the State Bank Museum and Art Gallery Department, thanked the participants of the conference.