KARACHI: Prof. G. Tucci, leader of the Italian archaeological mission to Pakistan, said yesterday that the excavations at Banbhore will throw light on the early Islamic period in Pakistan. Prof Tucci, a renowned archaeologist, praised the Department of Archaeology for the good excavations at the site situated on the northern bank of the Gharo Creek, about 40 miles from Karachi on the highway to Hyderabad. He said the excavations for the last six years have revealed the plan of a well-fortified harbour town of considerable size with some details of art, architecture and a wealth of material objects of early Islamic period.

The Italian archaeologist said that the museum built at the site is very well organised, containing important documents, inscriptions and pottery. The primary purpose of the investigations has been to determine the origin of the settlement as well as to reveal something of the life and culture of the early Muslim settlers who arrived in Sind in the beginning of the eighth century A.S. The large pottery collection, in particular, has enabled the excavators to study and classify for the first time early Islamic pottery of the subcontinent which is expected to serve as a dependable basis for further investigations in this field.

Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2014