SWAT: Conservation experts have emphasised the importance of unity among local communities and government bodies for preserving and conserving Swat’s Buddhist rock heritage.

The call was made during a community meeting to discuss the conservation of Swat’s Buddhist rock heritage as part of the newly-launched project titled ‘Preservation of the Buddhist Rock Heritage of Swat - Digitalisation and Preventative Conservation’.

Funded by the British Council and implemented by Esa Noor Associates in collaboration with the Italian Archaeological Mission, the Heritage Management and the KP Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, the project aims to preserve and conserve ancient rock art digitally.

Maryam Shah, the heritage manager, along with Kashif Esa, the team leader, Dr Elisa Iori, Deputy Director of the Italian Archaeological Mission, Dr Zarwar Khan, Assistant Professor of Archaeology at the University of Swat, Fazal Khaliq, Zobia Tnavir, architect, and Nawazuddin, Swat Museum curator, addressed the meeting.

Ms Shah highlighted the project’s focus on preserving local traditional views and stories connected with the rock carvings. She emphasised the importance of training local people and collaborative efforts for proper conservation and stabilisation of artifacts. The project aims to digitally preserve approximately 110 rock art monuments with active involvement from the local community.

Kashif Esa expressed concern over the significant loss of Buddhist rock carvings due to neglect and emphasised the collective responsibility to preserve them for future generations. He highlighted the project’s goal of creating a digital repository accessible to students, researchers, archaeologists and others.

Dr Zarwar Khan noted the presence of Hindu rock art in Swat and emphasised the significance of preserving and maintaining these cultural treasures.

He appreciated the efforts to conserve Swat’s heritage digitally.

Elisa Iori, representing the Italian Archaeological Mission, expressed satisfaction with tourists’ interest in Swat’s heritage sites and highlighted the potential of digital conservation to promote further and stabilise Swat’s heritage.

Zobia Tnavir presented a case study on the digital preservation of an archaeological site in Swat, showcasing the project’s methodology and potential impact.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2024