Journal of Asian Civilizations

The Distribution and Contextualization of Protohistoric and Historic Cemeteries around Singoor Village, Chitral, Pakistan

2022-12-01T08:27:35+00:00

The present paper contextualizes the results of the intensive archaeological survey around the Singoor village in District Chitral, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. The survey was optimized to specifically identify protohistoric graves through walking across the landscape in the vicinity of Shah Mirandeh graves at Singoor. The survey documented eleven burial sites, including the sites of Gankoreneotek, Gankoreni village, Hindukush Heights Hotel, Chakasht 1 & 2, Mirandeh, Noghur Dhok, Lashino Dhok, Kolambi and
Sinjal Graves. Later, the site of Dolamuch was discovered in a subsequent survey carried out in 2008 during the excavations of Gankoreneotek graves. Thus, a total of twelve protohistoric cemeteries, including Shah Mirandeh graves, were documented around Singoor. Of these, three graves’ sites Shah Mirandeh, Gankoreneotek and Chakasht 2 have been excavated. The present systematic
survey was successful as it resulted in the documentation of one of the densest clusters of protohistoric/historic cemeteries in northern and northwestern Pakistan. The radiocarbon dates obtained from cemeteries around Singoor suggest a date range from 8th century cal. BCE to 17th century cal. CE, indicating the existence and presence of viable historic burial traditions that were possibly
like the protohistoric burial traditions and shared the same landscape contexts.

An Introduction to Harappan Mirrors: Studies in the National Museum, Karachi, Pakistan

2022-12-01T08:42:07+00:00

The objective of this paper is to highlight four masterpieces of Harappan mirrors in the collection of the National Museum of Pakistan in Karachi. The origin of those mirrors from Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro and side by side an attempt is made to locate the present location of other mirrors elsewhere.

Assassination Attempt on the Buddha A Mysterious Relief Panel in the SRO Collection of the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Peshawar

2022-12-01T08:53:00+00:00

The relief panel (Fig.1) that shows a scene from the life of Buddha is part of the SRO collection, which is now in the possession of the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums (DOAM), Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Since its first entry to the collection, the sculpture remains unidentified and to our knowledge unpublished. It is a unique or at least a rare example of its kind not only because
it depicts one of the most important events of the Buddha’s life, but it also represents certain enigmatic figures that needs to be distinguished and identified. In this preliminary study, we are trying to describe the pictorial representation of the episode vis-à-vis the Buddhist texts and also to decipher the characters of the event.

Earliest Pashto studies by Western scholars from the 16th century to the 19th century

2022-12-01T10:29:26+00:00

This article aims at dealing with the dawn of Pashto studies, from the first mention of this language, in the 16th century, till the first scientific treatises on Pashto grammar, literature and lexicology by Bernhard Dorn, published between 1840 and 1847. The questions this article tries to answer is: how was the documentation of Pashto collected? By whom? For which purpose? The aim of the following overview of all western authors who dealt with Pashto in the initial epoch is also to show how general knowledge increased more and more quickly with the military involvement in the region.

Feasibility Study for Establishment of International Institute of Comparative Civilizations at Taxila 1997

2022-12-01T10:51:33+00:00

The article presents a document of great importance for the history of Taxila Institute of Asian Civilizations. It is the first feasibility study prepared in 1988 under the guidance of A.H. Dani as a blueprint for what was to become the Institute. The publication of this document thirtyfive years later shows once again anticipatory spirit of its inspirer.

Photogrammetric Analysis and 3D Modeling of Early Muslim Glazed Pottery Collection at Hazara University Museum, Pakistan

2022-12-01T11:04:20+00:00

Today, photogrammetric and 3D computer modeling is the essential and fundamental techniques utilized in archaeology and other heritage-related fields. In the areas of conservation, preservation, restoration, and mediation of architectural, archaeological, and cultural heritage, they offer essential responses to scientific needs. There aren't many computer-based automation tools for pottery
classification in the realm of archaeology. Lacking computer vision-assisted technologies, archaeologists are unable to see a full pot from a single shattered fragment in three dimensions. The strength and widespread use of computer-based automation techniques have not yet had a truly positive impact on Pakistan's archaeology. The methods for obtaining 3D data for fragments have been
extensively addressed, but the methods for virtual reconstruction have not received enough attention. There is a large collection of early Muslim glazed pottery housed in Hazara University Museum of Archaeology. The aim of the present study was to reconstruct and complete the object from pottery fragments and to determine the drawing, designs, and color combination of selected pottery. For this purpose, fragments of two different pots from the same collection were selected. The result of this study revealed a complete 3D model of each broken glazed ceramic pot with help of proposed techniques and computer applications.