Asian Research Thesis Index

Abstract

The present study titled An Analytical Study of the Archaeological Discoveries from Bhamāla, Taxila focusses on the recent archaeological discoveries made during the three seasons of excavations carried out at the Buddhist site of Bhamāla by the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Peshawar, in collaboration with the Department of Archaeology, Hazara University (Mansehra), and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA from 2012 to 2016. Bhamāla, one of the most important Buddhist sites, is located on the right bank of the Haro River in Khānpur (a sub-valley of Taxila). The site was first excavated by Sir John Marshall in 1930-31. But his brief report had left many questions that awaited answers using the material from the same site. Excavation at Bhamāla was resumed after about eight decades. Our excavation aimed at reconfirming the dates assigned by Sir John Marshall and establishing the archaeological profile of the site with scientific and latest archaeological methods. Our excavations at Bhamāla, on one hand, resulted in many remarkable discoveries in the history of Buddhist art and architecture in Gandhāra, and raised many new questions on the other. The subject of this dissertation covers both those unanswered questions as well as new questions raised by the important discoveries made during the most recent excavations. To address these questions precisely, we have divided this dissertation in eight chapters. In chapter one, an introduction to the present research and methodology is given. The second chapter gives a review of all available literature relevant to the subject of dissertation. An Overall review of the archaeological findings at the site of Bhamāla is provided in Chapter Three. Chapter Four deals with the detailed analyses of the structural remains including the main stupas A & B flanked by chapels, votive stupas, the Parinirvāṇa chamber and the monastic establishments. A comparative and scientific (material) analyses of the terracotta sculptures reported during our recent excavations is given in chapter Five. Chapter Six presents a detailed analysis of the stucco sculptures from Bhamāla. Chapter seven deals with the numismatic evidences discovered during our recent excavations at the site. Chapter Eight is a detailed summary and discussion of the information presented in the preceding chapters. The Conclusion is followed by my suggestions for further archaeological research at Bhamāla.

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