TAXILA, March 13: Experts from the Federal Department of Archaeology and Museums have imparted training in excavation, exploration and preservation to a batch of 35 students from the Peshawar University.

According to officials, the experts including Project Director Mohammad Bahadur Khan and Assistant Curator Abdul Ghaffor Lone taught the students the basic techniques of identification of cultural material, stratigraphy and archaeological investigation during the week-long session at the ancient Buddhist Monastic Complex, locally known as Jinna Wali Dheri, some 15km from Taxila Museum.

The students, both male and female, were also trained in drawing and conservation methods adopted for the preservation and restoration of ancient sites.

Earlier, other students from the University of the Punjab, Lahore, and University of Peshawar also underwent a comprehensive training programme at this site.

It may be mentioned here that the Buddhist site has its own significance in the field of archeological and the Buddhist history of Pakistan, especially the Taxila Valley civilisation.

The site measuring 500 X 400 metres was a big complex of religious activities. A fair quantity of minor antiquities, like coins of the Kushan dynasty, including Kanishka, Vasudeva, Kidara Kushans and one silver coin of the White Huns; glass and shell bangles; stone and terra-cotta beads; earthenware storage jars, bowls and small spouted pots; metal objects consisting of large copper bells, iron arrowheads, fragments of daggers and spear heads and nails; stucco heads of Buddha and Bodhisattva had been excavated from the stupa area.

The most remarkable discovery from Jinna Wali Dheri was the Buddhist mural painting, which most likely depicted Lord Buddha surrounded by his followers.

In the past, excavators discovered paintings of Gandhara civilisation in China and Central Asian states, but this recent discovery was the first of its kind in Pakistan.

This type of mural painting has yet not been discovered in any other Buddhist sanctuary of Gandhara. Due to this unique discovery, now it is very clear that the mural paintings discovered at sites in Afghanistan, China and Central Asia belonging to the 5th-6th century originated from the soil of Gandhara.

Further excavation of the site may reveal more information about this important medium of the Buddhist art of Gandhara.

Keeping in view the importance of this site, the US government through the cultural wing of its embassy in Islamabad has approved a $31,000 grant for the restoration, conservation, preservation and publication of the site.

The preservation, restoration and provision of tourists facilities at the site is in progress since 2000 and is nearing completion. Recently, the main stupa of the monastery was successfully exposed and its conservation is in progress.