Journal of Asian Civilizations

The Beads from Gandi Umar Khan in the Gomal Plain, Pakistan: An Introduction

Ayesha Hina — 2025-03-24

The mature Harappan period urban centre of Gandi Umar Khan is located to the west of Dera Ismail khan city in the Gomal Plain of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the Northwestern South Asia. Discovered in 1997, the site of Gandi Umar Khan was excavated jointly by the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Department of Archaeology, University of Peshawar in 2003 and in 2004. Four cultural periods have been identified namely the Tochi Gomal, Transitional, Kot Diji and mature Harappan ranging in date tentatively from 3300 to 1900 BC, based on relative chronology from identical sites in the region. In addition to a large number of cultural artifacts such as ceramics, figurines, metal objects and tools, about 1504 beads, pendants, seal and amulets made of stone, bones, terracotta, shell, copper alloys, gold and glass were also discovered during these excavations. Here focus is made only the beads from the site. The extensive study of these beads is fascinating because they can provide significantly more information about populations' mining and technological abilities, as well as their economic and social activities, that we can imagine. Besides, they help us dating and contextualizing other material. The study examines the bead collection in the context of materials utilization as well as its typology, origin and cultic significance. The purpose is to know a better understanding of the significance of the Gandi Umar Khan site in the Gomal Plain.

A Study of Confiscated Ceramics from Balochistan: The Collection of Islamabad Museum

Sana Ullah Shinwari — 2025-03-24

Ancient ceramics with attractive features of art have always fascinated the world and created a demand with a higher level of attraction for the artifacts. This has led the treasure hunters actively involved in looting the sites all around Balochistan. In the recent years, this phenomenon has increased at an alarming rate which endangered is harming to the archeology of Balochistan. Many consignments have been confiscated in the decade that include the artefacts from Balochistan. One of such consignments was confiscated in 2005 which includes the pottery of Naal and Kulli, a Bronze Age phase, from Balochistan. This research paper focuses on these artifacts have certainly lost their context, but they are still important as they give numerous clues about the ancient inhabitants of Balochistan. In order to understand these hidden clues, the authors have analyzed the artifacts through observations and comparisons. While doing so, we have been able to trace their tentative position in chronological profile of Balochistan. Apart from the descriptive study of pottery, the paper also deals shortly with treasure hunting and illicit trafficking of archaeological materials of Balochistan.

One theme, two sculptures and three possessions. Buddhist relief panels from Gandhāra representing Siddhārtha going to school.

M. Nasim Khan — 2025-03-24

Two panels, one was in the Mardan Museum, Pakistan, and the other is presently in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, represent the same theme with the same general iconographic features and they are also identical in shape. The Mardan Museum sculpture remained on display for long time but since then has passed from sight, conversely, photographs of an identical panel have long been preserved in the archives of the Department of Archaeology, University of Peshawar. This article focuses on the whereabouts of these three objects, their acquisition history in addition to the reason for their iconographic similarities and other related facts such as the question of their authenticity.

Seven (not so) Easy Pieces: A Note on Some Found Objects from Gandhāra

Alice Casalini — 2025-03-24

Recently, a few sculptural fragments with no provenance information were found in the warehouses of the Italian Archaeological Mission (MAI) at Saidu Sharif Mission House in Mingora. The fragments were found in a box of objects collected or excavated in the late 1950s or early 1960s. The 2005 earthquake caused the old wooden shelving in the storage rooms to collapse and the original basket with the provenance information fell, with hundreds of others. In the following years, all baskets were reconstructed with patient collection work, thanks to the fact that Mission had (and still has) the habit of inking each piece, whether it was a sculptural or pottery fragment. Very few pieces remained un-inked. Being part of this small group, some of these pieces lost their provenance information. Therefore, this note presents an attempt to reconstruct the provenance of these objects and discuss their iconography. In addition to these pieces, which have been inventoried as Varia New Series (VSN) and handed over to the Swat Museum, there is one from a stratigraphic context, from Barikot, already at the Museum, which has features that have suggested the hand of one of the sculptors of Butkara I or Saidu Sharif I.

A Chrono-Typology Study of Metal Arrowheads at Barikot (Bīr-koṭ-ghwaṇḍai), Swāt, Pakistan

Naghmeh Mahzounzadeh — 2025-03-24

The archaeological examination of arrowheads plays a significant role in understanding technological advancements, offering perspectives on the evolution of weaponry, and shedding light on hunting and warfare practices. The rigorous analysis enables researchers to extract crucial details about craftsmanship, material utilization, and societal behaviors, thereby enriching our comprehension of past civilizations. Notably, the ongoing excavation of the urban site of Barikot in Swat, Pakistan, since 1984 has unearthed a diverse assemblage of arrowheads. This article employs a systematic approach to provide a chrono-typology, categorizing these artifacts and conducting a thorough analysis of their morphology to elucidate morphological changes over time.

A few notes on the Turk Shahi elite and Buddhism. East Asian sources and archaeology

Arina Mrachkovskaya — 2025-03-24

East Asian Buddhist pilgrims portrayed Turk Shahi as Buddhist rulers – they regularly made offerings, provided Buddhist feasts, built monasteries on their donations. However, archaeological evidence shows a more complex situation. Under Turk Shahi reign Brahmanical cults spread through the region, while esoteric Buddhism steadily gained popularity.

Pir Shah Jurio at Risk: A Coastal Harappan Site on the Bank of Hub River

Waqar Ali Chang — 2025-03-24

The civilisation of the Indus Valley is spread across several naturally resource rich areas, a reason for internal and external trade. Connectivity from one area to another should be the reason why the thousand settlements support each other from different perspectives. The Karachi region, located in an important geographical position between the mountain belt to the north and west and the plains to the east, its maritime environment should be an important source of seafood at the time. Unfortunately, many of the sites prior to detailed studies have been little studied or even are now at risk from building and industrial expansion. One very important site is Pir Shah Jurio, strategically located on the eastern bank of the Hub River and only 5 kilometres north of the sea in the Karachi region.