43
A centuries-old 'sleeping Buddha' statue has been unearthed during excavations near Bhamala Stupa in Haripur district, DawnNews reported on Thursday.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Directorate of Archaeology And Museums Director Dr Abdul Samad said,"The 48-feet long 'sleeping Buddha' statue dates back to the third century, which makes it the world's oldest 'sleeping Buddha' statue."
He told DawnNews that archaeologists found the statue, with its head intact, during excavations near the Bhamala Stupa.
"We have discovered more than 500 Buddha-related objects during excavations, in addition to the 48-feet long 'sleeping Buddha',” he said.
The latest discoveries by the archaeologists have opened new chapters in the history of the ancient Taxila Valley Civilisation.
“This is one of the few sites in the world to have the cruciform Stupa, which was reserved for Buddha himself,” Samad had earlier told Dawn.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (43) Closed
Nov 16, 2017 07:31pm
Well done
Recommend
0
Nov 16, 2017 07:32pm
it is very informative news paper
Recommend
0
Nov 16, 2017 10:21pm
Peshawar university had a strong archaeology department. However, the charsadha site has been encroached by looters who smuggle these ancient treasures of Pakistan away. In fact, smugglers promise villagers that they are bettering their chances of a heavenly afterlife by purifying the land from kufr influences.
Recommend
0
Nov 16, 2017 10:59pm
Pakistan ia sitting on some of the oldest and great history. This proves it. The question is, is our country willing to accept this history which is direct contradiction to the current direction of Islamic revolution. Will our soceity, govt and military allow it to safeguarded and flourish ??
it would be a great human tragedy if we fail our historical wonders..
Recommend
0
Nov 16, 2017 11:00pm
Thanks Pakistan ..
Recommend
0
Nov 16, 2017 11:19pm
Amazing. Real roots getting discovered.
Recommend
0
Nov 17, 2017 12:18am
@Shoaib
Thanks for your honest and rightly concern.
This can be expected from groups in Pakistan
Recommend
0
Nov 17, 2017 12:31am
Thank you pakistan
Recommend
0
Nov 17, 2017 12:41am
dont go on destroying it now
Recommend
0
Nov 17, 2017 12:42am
all thse Buddhist were force ably converted
Recommend
0
Nov 17, 2017 02:26am
Oh how sad this is proverbial kick in the back Islamism and it’s assocition with this ancient land.
Recommend
0
Nov 17, 2017 02:33am
This is exciting news. Cant wait to see pictures of this. Pakistan has a rich history and its land help spread Buddhism far and wide.
Recommend
0
Nov 17, 2017 03:02am
Well .. that reminds me of Bamiyan Buddha statues
Recommend
0
Nov 17, 2017 04:20am
Sad day for the statue.....
Recommend
0
Nov 17, 2017 05:09am
People of Pakistan should be Proud for the Rich History of Civilization!
Recommend
0
Nov 17, 2017 05:33am
I wish and pray that it does not same fate as of Bamiyan.. looking at the activities in NA and on streets of Islamabad, near Taliban forces are making their efforts to rule land of pure!
Recommend
0
Nov 17, 2017 05:34am
@Shoaib brother I wish someone in government read your post and they pay attention to this.
Recommend
0
Nov 17, 2017 05:51am
Would be nice if Dawn would show some pictures...
Recommend
0
Nov 17, 2017 05:55am
Will Pakistan enforce Islamic law to get rid of these antiquities.
Recommend
0
Nov 17, 2017 05:55am
Thanks pakistan archeology dept........
Recommend
0
Nov 17, 2017 06:07am
Get back to your roots
Recommend
0
Nov 17, 2017 06:19am
Pakistan is Land of Buddha invaders has occupied it
Recommend
0
Nov 17, 2017 06:24am
Pl preserve your civilization
Recommend
0
Nov 17, 2017 06:40am
@Shoaib very true. Better the govt itself sells these artifacts. First the govt. will earn money, second the smugglers are not in the picture then, third, it can go to a place where people would actually appreciate the works of our ancestors, out here everyone would be disgusted (and simultaneously in awe) with the works of the kufr. Let it go out before they deface it.
Recommend
0
Nov 17, 2017 07:36am
Great! Buddhism is a part of our heritage whose relics must be preserved.
Recommend
0
Nov 17, 2017 07:38am
Despite open looting of so many sites in Haripur and other places in KPK, some old treasures still survive. These sites should be properly sealed and guarded but who will do that? Many top VIPs of the province are involved in the despoliation of these heritage items.
Recommend
0
Nov 17, 2017 07:39am
This tells that it is a land of ancient hindus.
Recommend
0
Nov 17, 2017 08:19am
That's great news Pakistan, Preserve it for our generations to come and see our's beloved Indus valley civilization!!
Recommend
0
Nov 17, 2017 08:25am
so sad to see what has became to once flourishing Buddhist and Hindus area in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Recommend
0
Nov 17, 2017 08:34am
please protect it!
Recommend
0
Nov 17, 2017 08:40am
Wow. This is great news. Despite negligence from the central Government, KPK Archaeology Department is doing a commendable job. Well Done.
Recommend
0
Nov 17, 2017 09:44am
Pakistan must preserved those ancient treasures. UNESCO should declared those site as protected human cultural and civilization treasures.
Recommend
0
Nov 17, 2017 09:56am
@udck So you are talking about legal purification? :-)
Recommend
0
Nov 17, 2017 10:02am
THANKS GOOD JOB dAWN AS ALERT AS ALWAYS
Recommend
0
Nov 17, 2017 10:44am
What happened to Bamiyan Budhdhas?
Recommend
0
Nov 17, 2017 10:56am
Wow! Looking forward to the puctures and a visit to the meuseum it will be displayed in.
Recommend
0
Nov 17, 2017 11:48am
@Shoaib Very Interesting indeed!!
Recommend
0
Nov 17, 2017 04:52pm
why are you informing again about a 2.5 year old discovery?
Recommend
0
Nov 18, 2017 10:26am
@k p rao : Another geographic-illiterate question. Bamiyan is in Afghanistan, these artifacts were found in Pakistan. Now don't tell me that you thought Afghanistan and Pakistan are the same. Pakistan is my country and Afghanistan is your "new girlfriend".
Recommend
0
Nov 18, 2017 10:28am
And yet -- Pakistanis have been trying to be Arabs for last 70 years. Be proud of your roots instead.
Recommend
0
Nov 18, 2017 12:05pm
@Ashok thaught provoking ascertainment
Recommend
0
Nov 18, 2017 01:01pm
@Ashok This is our rich history and we are proud of our present.
Recommend
0
Nov 18, 2017 03:55pm
@Ashok "Pakistanis have been trying to be Arabs for last 70 years. " This is what you have gathered from what Pakistanis have been trying. There are over 200m people here, we try in various directions, just like the 1.2b Indians although it looks like they are trying to omit Muslims' contributions to it. We understand that all of them are not trying for Mahabharat for last 30 years. Maybe you don't understand others as others understand you.
Recommend
0
