A HILL dismissed more than a century ago as an unremarkable heap of ruins has yielded one of Taxila’s most intriguing archaeological finds. Excavations at Jandial, led by Italian archaeologists, have exposed a structure nearly 100m long and more than 50m wide. It is located on an ancient road from Jandial’s Greek-style Ionic temple, outside the walls of the ancient city of Sirkap. Was it a place of worship, a public building or part of a larger complex? No one yet knows. That uncertainty is precisely what makes the discovery exciting. Taxila was a meeting place of peoples, beliefs, and architectural traditions, and the newly discovered remains could help explain how its communities organised their lives beyond the city walls. The finding follows last year’s discoveries at Bhir Mound, which raised fresh questions about how early urban life developed in the region. Together, they suggest that present accounts of Taxila still leave much unexplored.
The immediate priority should be properly funded research rather than grand claims about what has been found. Archaeologists need time to establish the monument’s age, purpose, and relationship with neighbouring sites. Their findings, including plans, photographs, and scientific assessments, should be made accessible to researchers and the public. Authorities must also protect the surrounding ground from construction and encroachment before potential evidence disappears. This is especially important given Unesco’s concerns earlier this year that restoration work at Mohra Moradu and Sirkap had compromised the authenticity of their ancient remains. The lesson is relevant to Jandial: excavation without careful preservation can destroy as much knowledge as it reveals. Pakistan should welcome the Italian partnership while investing in local archaeologists, conservation specialists and students who can continue the work. The greatest reward from Jandial will be a fuller, more accurate account of the varied civilisations that once shared this land.
Published in Dawn, October 13th, 2026
