Intact murals dating back to the 1st century have been discovered from a Buddhist site in Swat, Dawn News has reported.
Saqib Raza, who was leading the team of archaeologists on the site, while speaking about the murals said: “We have discovered some rare fresco paintings belonging to the first century from the Abbasahib-China Buddhist site in Barikot during our recent exactions. The paintings are in different poses including namaskar pose. Six of them are visible and intact.”
Director of Archaeology and Museums Dr Abdul Samad while speaking to the publication referred to the discovery of the murals as a landmark achievement, adding “there is no other example here in Gandhara of finding intact paintings”.
He further shared that rare Kharosthi script inscriptions and coins were also discovered by the archaeologists in the area.
According to Director of Italian Archaeological Mission Prof Luca M Olivieri, the discovery is really important because it provides evidence of a painting school at Swat and Gandhara “whose traces have unfortunately faded away”.
Earlier, a Hindu temple, believed to be 1,300 years ago, was discovered at a mountain in Swat district. Researchers from Shah Abdul Latif University’s Department of Archaeology also found traces of a third-century settlement in Brahmanabad, Sindh.
