Presentation

Prof. Abdur Rahmans Contribution to the Archaeology of Swat: A case

Study of the Buddhist Site of Shnaisha
Statement Problem
The main problem of this research work will be to find out Dr. A.Rs approach
to archaeology with a special focus on his report of the excavation report of
Shnaisha. Dr. A.R os considered as a senior Pakistani archaeologist adhering to the
ethics of knowledge and research. He holds a specific approach to the history of
Gandhara and is considered as authority on the Turk Shahi and Hindu Shahi periods
of the area. There remains a gape in the study of his scholarshipas till now no study
has been done about his work.
A debate was raised between A.R and Maurizio Taddei on the preliminary
report shnaisha written by A.R. the remarks of Taddei published in journal ofEast and
West Vol. 48. No1/2 (June 1998) gave rise to numerous questions regarding the
works and innitiatives of Dr. A.R.
Hypothesis:
Dr A.Rs report of the Excavation of Shnaisha needs an analytical study as it
created a lot of debate immediately after its publication.
Scope of the Study:
The main significance of this research work will be to throw light on A.Rs
contribution to the archaeology of Swat. A revieq of his report on Shnaisha would
create answers to the critique raised against Dr. A.Rs report of the Shnaisha. This
research work will be helpful in understanding the literaly work of Dr. A.R for future
generations
Literature Review

Dr. A.Rs preliminary report published in journal of Ancient Pakistan Vol. VIII,
1993

Some remarks on preliminary report of excavation of shnaisha by Maurizio

Taddei ( East and West. Vol. 48. No (June 1998)

Buddhist shrines in Swat. Dr M. Ashraf Khan, curator Archaeologicalmuseum

Saidu Sharif Swat (Saidu Sharif 1993)

Some Remarks on Taddeis Review of Shnaisha (Ancient Pakistan Vol. XIV,

2001)

Preliminary report on the archaeological excavations of Buddhist sites in Swat

N.W.F.P 1989-90 (by Mian Said Qamar & Dr. Muhammad Ashraf Khan- Journal
of Central Asia, Vol. XIV, NO. 2, December, 1991)

Methodology:
Descriptive method and Analytical method will be used throughout the research
process.
Tentative Chapterization:
Chapter.1- Swat: location, Geography, history
Chapter.2- Report Review
Chapter.3- Analysis
Prof Abdur Rahamnas Biographical Sketch:

A renowned archaeologist born in Sarghoda on 15 th November 1934.

Got his masters degree in archaeology from university of Peshawar in 1964,
and was appointed as lecturer in same university.
Received his Ph. D from the Australian National University at Canberra in
1976
He was retired as a chairman of department of archaeology from university of
Peshawar in 1994.
He supervised number of M.phil and Ph. D scholars at universities of panjab
and Peshawar.
He also remained as an advisor on culture to government of of KP from 1996
to 2000.
He was appointed as professor of archaeology at university of the Punjab.
His Works:
He has published large number of field reports and research articles in
national and international journals.
He edited papers and proceedings of international symposium on Islamic art
and architecture, calliography and archaology, held in march 16 1981 in
Vols. I and III, Peshawar.
He remained editor of
i)
Ancient Pakistan (reseach bulliten of department of archaeology,
university of Peshawar) Vols. VII and VIII
ii)
Research journal of department of Fine Arts, Vol. I
iii)
A comprehensive history of Pakistan, Vol. I (in print)
He authored and published book
i)
The last two dynasties of Sahis, Islamabad, 1979.
ii)
Islamic Archetecture of Pakistan- An interoduction, Peshawar 1981.
iii)
A comprehensive history of Pakistan, Vol. I, part 1, 2007.
iv)
A comprehensive history of Pakistan, Vol. I part 2, 2008

Archaeological history of Swat:

Swat valley situated in northwestern part of Pakistan
It is the mountanoius region with anciend name: the Buddhist land of
Uddiyana ( garden) lies
i)
In north of high mountainous range of Himalaya
ii)
On west is region of Dir
iii)
On the south is mountainous ridge and Malakand pass
iv)
On east is the Kohistan area bordering the mighty Indus reiver
Swat is deved in to two parts: Bar (upper) and Kuz (lower) Swat. (Ashraf
2008-8,9)
First archaeological survey in swat was carried out in 1926 by Sir. Aural Stien
Barger and Wright (1941) carried their survey and excavated various
archaeological sites ( particularly Barikot site) in 1941
A detailed survey was conducted by Italian Archaeological mission headed by
G. Tucci, President ISMEO, Rome and D. Faccenna (1964) in collaboration with
Department of Archaeology and Museum, Government of Pakistan.
Department of Archaeology, University of Peshawar under guidance of Prof.
A.H Dani (Dani 1988) carried out exploration and excavation in Dir valley.
Besides the Italian archaeological mission and University of Peshawar, the
department of archaeology and museum, government of Paksitan continued
its work and discovered many Buddhist sites in the valley.
Shanisha: Geography and Nature of the site
The Buddhist site is situated about 5 km southwest of saidu sharif on Mingora
Marghazar Road. Tharkana hills on its west and south.
A deep ravin on its north, created by erosion of hill torrents.
A spring about 122 m away from the main stupa is situated to the west
It is one of the largets Buddhist site in swat valley comprising of sacred area
and monastery
Detail of the excavation report:
the site was first excavated by by Mr. Nazir khan custodian of Swat museum
in 1989.
The work continued for short period of time
In 2nd season aregular campaign was undertaken in june 1990, by department
of archaeology, university of Peshawar under the field direction of Prof. Abdyr
Rahman, in collaboration withdepartment of Archaeology and Museum,
Government of Pakistan
The excavation continued until octuber 1990
Large number of antiquities, sculptures and somme special sculptures were
borught to light.
Numenclature of the site:
Shnaisha is composite Pashto wprd comprising two parts
i)
Shnai si the name of trees which bear sweet fruits and grow very tall,
like tree of Chinar.
ii)
The word sha is a siffix in place names such as Lwarasha (i.i spot or
place)

Thus shnaisha means place of shnai tree

Detail of the excavation report:
Report is published in journal of Ancient Pakistan (research bulliten of
/depaetement of Archaeology, university of Peshawar) in 1990, Vol. VIII
Report contains
i)
Previous works done on the site
ii)
Location of the site
iii)
Archaeological remains in the vicinity
iv)
The excavation strategy
v)
Stratigraphy (study of layers and lying)
vi)
Structural remains, which are
Main stupa
The monastery wall and the flight of steps (wall hight 5.50 m and
diaper messonry)
The eastern platefrom (not fully excavated yet)
Votive stupas (three in number)
The tank
Two cells
The foundation wall
The sculptures
As many as 379 sculptures comprising panel reliefs, large size independent
reliefs, capitals and brackets.
A descriptive list of sculptures
i)
Defferent reliefs depicting Buddha seated and standing in different
Muddras
ii)
Reliefs depicting vajrapani, lotus flower and Buddhist mythology
Coins
i)
Not very impressive number of coins found
ii)
Total twenty coins
iii)
In these 19 are of copper and one is of silver
iv)
These cons are of
Early kushan period
Kushano- sasanian period
Late Kushan period
Hindu shahi period
Chronolgy of the site
Description of antiquities found by NAzir Khan in 1989
Map of the location
Plan of excavation
Images of reliefs
Maurizio Taddei disagreement: A debate
Maurizio taddai raised following critiques on the preliminary report of
Shnaisha by Dr. A.R
i)
Nomenclature
ii)
The second session of excavation was joint venture by department of
Archaeology, government of Pakistan and university of Peshawar. He
called this two headed inniciative accounts for the unusual fact that

iii)
Sources:

two preliminary reports on same excavation campaign were published

and were almost same. (qamar, Ashraf 1991; Abdur Rahman 1993)
Abdur Rahman also presented some remarks on Taddeis review on
shnaisha report in Anicient Pakistan. Vol. XIV, 2001.