IsIAO Italian Archaeological Mission in Pakistan
Buddhist Complexes and Urban Settlements in Gandharan Age The test case of Barikot (Bir-kot-ghwandai), Swat
The Archaeological Map of the Swat Valley (AMSV) Project The Barikot (Bir-kot-ghwandai) Area
Bronze Age painted pottery
The SW corner of the City with its Indo-Greek defensive wall and the bastions; the akropolis is in the background.
SWAT RIVER
Late Historic Sacred Complex VII-X AD
Late Historic Settlement V – XIV AD
Ancient Route The City II BC - V AD
Late Bronze-Iron Age Settlements Iron Age Graveyard
Modern Road
Geographic Map
Sat Map
Geological Map
Thematic representation of the archaeological sites’ distribution. Each spot presents UTM coordinates and is correlated to an alphanumeric database
Each query is charachterized by a specific grammar: <, >, =, et cet.
Example of spatial analysis
Najigram Valley Karakar Valley
Kandak Valley Kotah Valley
3D landscape model
First Observations on the Buddhist Sites Occupation Patterns
Central Courtyard Complexes Main visual poles
Multicentric patterns and visual possession in the Buddhist occupation of the ager of Barikot: the area between Barikot and Kanderai
Karakar pass
China-bara Amluk Abbasaheb-china
Amluk-dara Kanderai
Tokar-dara
Gumbat
193
Main Road Cherat path Saffar path Kandak-Najigram Najigram Karakar path Saidu path Southern path
Mingora-Saidu Area Udegram-Shingardar Area Manglawor Area Clusters of Buddhist complexes are significantly positioned along main routes and nearby important junctions
Shangla Road To/from Taxila area
To/from Afghanistan
Karakar Road
Chakdara Area Shah-kot Road
To/from Peshawar Plain
Barikot Area
Main settlements Main hilltop Buddhist complexes 193
Buddhist complexes on road passes
Agriculture, Water Management and Land Use
193
Presence of hydraulic structures or reservoirs Fertile land
Remains of a a big aqueduct at Tokar-dara I
Remains of double walling with drainage system related to a large dam at Najigram I-II
Sirsukh (Kushan City?)
Sirkap (Saka-Parthian)
What about Taxila Valley? Bhir Mound (Early Historic City)
The situation at Sanchi has been recently analysed thanks to the joint research carried out by the Oxford University and Madhya Pradesh Directorate of Archaeology
Chronological Evidence
Barikot chronology BKG Period III II-I BC, Indo-Greek fortified city BKG Periods IV-V I BC-I AD, Saka-Parthian city (the defensive wall still in use); in the countryside: establishment of the first Buddhist complexes (e.g. Tokar-dara) BKG Periods V-VII and VIII I-IV AD, Kushan urban settlement (inside the built up area: abandonment of the defensive wall, building of intra moenia Buddhist sacred areas); in the countryside: Buddhist complexes building â&#x20AC;&#x153;boomâ&#x20AC;? BKG Periods VIII-IX V-VI AD, abandonment of the city and establishment of a tower-houses settlement on the E side of the hill; in the countryside: the majority of the Buddhist complexes were likely abandoned
Saka-Parthian phase armour scales BKG Period IV
Northern sector complex Room 512 Corridor
Open courtyard with well Stupa court
The defensive wall was abandoned in Period VI and partly buried from Period VII onwards
Location of scale armours
TRENCH BKG 4-5
Kushan phase armour scales mainly from locus BKG 504 BKG Period VI-VII
Frequency of different iron finds in BKG trenches 1-5 Total
Unidentified and Varia
Nails and cramps
Armour coat parts
Knifeblades
Arrowheads
Keys
Scytheblades
Door-hinges and Mongeries
Iron smelting waste
21 738
395
107
107
32
50
6
9
14
The Kushana Barikot: a city without defense?
Sure-tangai
Bar-tangai Stargo-manai
Parrai
Barama Udegram
Damkot Barikot Kalungai
Indo-Greek/Saka-Parthians fortified settlements (II BCI AD) Main Shahi/early Muslim forts and castles (IX-XI AD)
Conclusions
Main concentration areas of late Buddhist rock sculptures
Jare
Ugad/Manglawar JambilISaidu Udegram/Manyar Puran Barikot Damkot Buner
Only 3 Buddhist sites are likely involved with such doctrinal renewing in VIVIII AD in the study area
The Brahmanic temple on the Barikot top hill
Karakar route
Late Historic sites, mainly tower-houses (VIII-XI AD)
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