TAXILA: The Federal Department of Archaeology has planned to initiate excavation and preservation of ancient Buddhist stupa and monastery dating back to 200-500 AD near Taxila located in a remote and hilly area of Margalla Hills.

The stupa and monastery is from the Kushan period between 200 and 500 AD. The stupa locally known as Ban Faqiran is located about two kilometres from Giri Buddhist monastic complex in Taxila Valley.

Federal Department of Archaeology Director-General Mohammad Arif said the main structure of the stupa was missing. There was a deep cut in the centre of the stupa and it appears to have been opened by some treasure hunters during the Sikh or early British period. He added that on the northern side of the stupa there are two other mounds with their surface covered in lime stone blocks.

He said the National Fund for Cultural Heritage (NFCH) approved the proposal for excavation at this Buddhist site with an allocation of Rs2 million.

Site is believed to be a Buddhist monastery from 200-500 AD

According to an official of the Federal Department of Archaeology, renowned archaeologist and professor at Quaid-i-Azam University, late Ahmed Hassan Dani, Dr M. Ashraf, Dr Mark  Kenoyer and Dr F.D. Kakrar discovered this stupa.

He said the remains of the complex were scattered in about a 1,000 square metre area on a hilltop.

“As it is a remote location it is expected that archeological treasures might have remained preserved,” he said.

He added that the excavation will reveal a lot of things about the development of monastic complexes in the Gandhara period. He added that Dr Dani believed that the caves of Shah Allah Ditta were meditation cells for this monastic complex which were later used by Hindus.

Published in Dawn December 16th , 2014