An Archaeological Study in Hazara Division, Pakistan.

1994 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

• Project/Area Number: 06044139
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Overseas Scientific Survey.
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: Joint Research
• Research Institution: OSAKA UNIVERSITY (1995); Tokyo National Museum (1994)
• Principal Investigator: NISHIOKA Yasuhiro Head Curator, Programming Dept., Tokyo National Museum, 学芸部, 企画課長 (40000351)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): FURUYA Takeshi Assistant Curator, Dept.of Proto-Historic Age Section, Tokyo National Museum, 考古課原史室, 研究員 (40238697) ; INOUE Youichi Curator, Dept.of Japanese Archaeology, Tokyo National Museum, 考古課, 主任研究官 (60176451) ; ANDO Kohichi Head Curator, Dept.of Japanese Archaeology, Tokyo National Museum, 考古課, 課長 (60202785) ; DAINOBU Yuji Curator, Education and Public Relations Section, Tokyo National Museum, 企画課普及室, 室長 (80163715) ; KOIZUMI Yoshihide Assistant Curator, South and Southeast Asia Section, Dept.of Oriental Antiquitie, 東洋課インド・南東アジア室, 研究員 (40205315) ; TANI Toyonobu Curator, Chinese Archaeology Section, Dept.of Oriental Antiquities, Tokyo Nation, 東洋課, 主任研究官 (70171824) ; MATSUMOTO Nobuyuki Curator, Chinese Arts Section, Dept.of Oriental Antiquities, Tokyo National Muse, 東洋課中国美術室, 室長 (30229562) ; SAOTOME Masahiro Curator, Northeast Asia Section, Dept.of Oriental Antiquities, Tokyo National Mu, 東洋課北東アジア室, 室長 (80150035) ; TAKAHAMA Shu Curator, South and Southeast Asia Section, Dept.of Oriental Antiquities, Tokyo N, 東洋課インド・南東アジア室, 室長 (60000353) ; GOTO Takeshi Curator, Middle East Section, Dept.of Oriental Antiquities, Tokyo National Museu, 東洋課西アジア・エジプト室, 室長 (40132758) ; 鷲塚 泰光 東京国立博物館, 学芸部, 学芸部長 (80191740) ; MOCHIZUKI Mikio Curator, Historic Age Section, Dept.of Japanese Archaeology, Tokyo National Muse
• Project Period (FY): 1994 – 1995
• Keywords: Pakistan / Hazara / Shinkiari / stupa / Buddhist monument

Research Abstract

This season's survey in cooperation with the Department of Archaeology of Pakistan took place in Hazara Division of N.W.F.P.from 10/20 to 11/22. Our Mission surveyed 15 archaeological sites in Shinkiari Village of Mansehra District. Herewith two important stupa sites (called Zar Dheri-1 and 2) will be discussed briefly.
Zar Dheri-1 is situated in a cultivating field in Tamba Hamlet, some 3 km to the north of Shinkiari. The site is rectangular in shape of about 80 m (E-W) x 130 m (N-S), stupa site is on the south, while monastery site is on the north. The stupa, on the square platform (about 70 m), has a square base (24.4 m) with 4 staircases topped with a cylindrical drum (diameter 19.4 m). The upper part of the drum has been destroyed. The masonry is of the diaper. The surface is decorated with plinths in Kanjur. Many remains of stone wall and foundation are observed in the monastery site.
Zar Dheri-2 is located in the rice field of Tanda Hamlet. The site is about 40 m (E-W) and 100 m (N-S), the stupa is to the south and the monastery to the north. The whole site has been largely damaged. The square base is topped with a cylindrical drum (diameter 16-20 m), the easter staircase is observed. From the mountain situated to the west of the site are discovered many coins mint by Vima Kadphises and Kanishka ; both of the Kushan kings. Their presence might indicate the probable date of its construction.
Compared with Gandharan examples or those in Taxila, Zar Dheri-1 is fairly a large site, and further archaeological survey should clarify the cultural aspects of Hazara Division during the Kushan Period.