Peshawar museum bridges heritage, new generation

Peshawar - For a group of schoolchildren visiting the Peshawar Museum ahead of opening of schools, Gandhara was no longer a distant civilization described in textbooks and archaeology movies. It was suddenly visible in stone in the serene face of a Buddha, the folds of ancient robes and narrative scenes carved centuries ago in this part of the region. The students moved slowly through the museum's Gandhara galleries, stopping before sculptures and antiquities panels that once formed part of the artistic and religious landscape of ancient northwestern South Asia. 'I felt as if I had stepped into the history of a civilization carved in stone,' said Ibrahim Khan, a third-grade student, while recording a video beside a Buddha sculpture. The visit was made possible by a Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government initiative offering free entry to provincial museums and archaeological sites for students, researchers and cultural enthusiasts. For archaeologists and heritage specialists, however, the significance of such visits extends beyond increasing museum footfall. They offer an opportunity to connect a younger generation with one of the most important archaeological landscapes in South Asia. At the heart of that landscape is the Peshawar Museum, internationally known for its extensive collection of Gandharan art. Its Gandhara galleries contain Buddhist sculptures, antiques and other archaeological material dating broadly from the second century BC to the sixth century AD. The collection illustrates the development of Buddhist imagery and narrative art over several centuries. Scenes associated with the life of Buddha including his birth, renunciation, enlightenment and teaching are represented through sculptures and narrative reliefs. For young visitors, those details provide a visual introduction to an archaeological period that can otherwise seem abstract. The museum's archaeological significance is also closely linked to sites across the province. A number of sculptures associated with Takht-i-Bahi and the ancient settlement of Sahr-i-Bahlol are housed in the Peshawar Museum, allowing visitors to see objects recovered from archaeological contexts alongside information about the wider Gandharan tradition. Bakhtzada Khan, Director, Peshawar Museum informed students that Gandhara was never confined to a single settlement of peshawar alone rather its archaeological footprint extends across present-day Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, encompassing Buddhist monasteries, stupas, settlements, workshops and trade routes spread across areas including Peshawar, Mardan, Swat, Charsadda and Buner. Among the best-known monuments is Takht-i-Bahi, a major Buddhist monastic complex near Mardan. The UNESCO world heritage site was founded in the early first century AD and remained in use until the seventh century. Its remains include a main stupa court, votive stupas, monastic cells and meditation areas. Other important archaeological locations include Jamal Garhi, Shahbaz Garhi, Butkara-I, the Saidu Sharif Stupa and Ranigat, while the Ashoka Rock Edicts at Mansehra provide evidence of an even earlier phase of the region's Buddhist and imperial history. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Directorate of Archaeology and Museums continues archaeological investigations and excavations across the province, adding new evidence to the understanding of ancient settlement patterns, religious practices and artistic production. Recent work at Bahu Dheri in Swabi, for example, uncovered a large stupa surrounded by votive stupas and chapels, along with Gandharan sculptural and decorative material. Such excavations are important because archaeology is not simply about recovering attractive objects. The location of an artefact, its relationship with buildings and other objects, and the layers in which it is found can provide evidence about how ancient communities lived, worshipped and interacted. Tags: