1,648
edits
→Shahi Phase (c. 680-1000 CE): added content
Adarshatva (talk | contribs) (→Old Apsidal Temple: Added content) Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit Advanced mobile edit |
Adarshatva (talk | contribs) (→Shahi Phase (c. 680-1000 CE): added content) Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit Advanced mobile edit |
||
| (5 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) | |||
| Line 95: | Line 95: | ||
== Indo-Greek Phase (c. 200–100 BCE) == | == Indo-Greek Phase (c. 200–100 BCE) == | ||
The Italian expeditions in the 1980s and 90s uncovered an Indo-Greek town dating to the time of King Menander I in the 2nd century BCE. At its peak, this town spanned approximately 12 hectares (30 acres), including the acropolis, or about 7 hectares (17 acres) excluding it. The settlement was fortified by a defensive wall featuring massive rectangular bastions. This wall, constructed around Barikot during the Indo-Greek phase, is associated with Macrophase 3a2, postdating 200 BCE. Excavations conducted by the same Italian mission in 2016-2017 provided numismatic evidence and radiocarbon analysis that dated the wall to this period. Additionally, a burial linked to the construction of the Indo-Greek city wall was dated to around 130–115 BCE, which corresponds to the later part of Menander I's reign and the onset of Antalkidas's rule. | |||
== Sakas and Parthians Phase (c. 50 BC–70 CE) == | |||
Belonging to Macrophase 3b, the period in Barikot reflects significant historical and cultural developments, specifically the annexation of Swat by the Sakas and Parthians. Evidence indicates that prior to 80 AD, the defensive wall surrounding the town was reinforced, showcasing the strategic importance of Barikot during this time. This reinforcement likely corresponds to the broader geopolitical changes occurring in the region as these groups exerted their influence over Swat. | |||
== Early Kushan Phase (c. 70-200 CE) == | |||
This period corresponds to Macrophase 4a and 4b during the Early Kushan times, when, in the first centuries of the Common Era, the geographical area of Barikot emerged as a referential space for at least three distinct and overlapping religious and social realities. These included the Buddhist ''saṅgha'' ({{lang-hi|बौद्ध सङ्घ|label=none}}), the so-called 'Dardic' communities, and the urban elites of Barikot. This dynamic interplay among diverse cultural and social groups highlights the region's significance as a melting pot of ideas, beliefs, and practices during the Early Kushan period. | |||
== Late Kushan Phase (c. 200-250 CE) == | |||
This period is classified as Macrophase 5a (circa 200-250 CE). Under the Kushan Empire, Bazira developed into a significant town; however, it faced devastation from a series of earthquakes in the 3rd century CE. The combination of earthquake damage and the subsequent decline of the Kushan Empire led to the abandonment of Bazira by the end of the 3rd century. | |||
Excavations at the site have uncovered a variety of artifacts that illuminate the daily life of its inhabitants, including coins, pottery, and weapons. Among the notable finds are a large green-schist statue of Siddhartha Buddha riding his horse Kanthaka and a carving of a stupa flanked by two lions, both of which underscore the Buddhist heritage of Bazira. Additionally, another statue depicts an unknown deity seated on a throne, characterized by long, curled hair and holding a wine goblet alongside a severed goat head. This figure may represent Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, or potentially another local deity, reflecting the cultural syncretism present in the region during this period. | |||
== Late Kushan, sub-Kushan, and Kushano-Sasanian Phase (c. 250-400 CE) == | |||
This timeframe is classified as Macrophase 5b (approximately 250-300 CE) and extends into Macrophase 6 (around 300-400 CE), which pertains to the late Kushan, sub-Kushan, and Kushano-Sasanian phases. | |||
==Abandonment Phase (c. 400-550 CE)== | |||
The Macrophase 7, (c. 400-550 CE) is considered as an abandonment phase, although a sacred building was constructed. | |||
== Shahi Phase (c. 680-1000 CE) == | |||
The Shahi phase is categorized under Macrophase 8 (circa 680-1000 CE). | |||
The Turk Shahi was a Turkic dynasty based in Kabul that also governed the Swat Valley from the 7th to the 9th centuries CE. During this time, members of the Italian Archaeological Mission in Pakistan discovered a remarkable temple built in Barikot, located atop the Ghwandai mound. This find is significant, as there are very few cultic centers in this region associated with the Shahi periods overall. Dr. Luca Maria Olivieri noted that the temple was constructed around 700 CE, during which the Uddiyana (Swat Valley) was under the rule of a king referred to as "From Kesar." He was the son of Khurasan Tegin Shah, a prominent Turk Shahi ruler from Kabul. Furthermore, the temple was re-established and maintained until the Hindu Shahi period (approximately 1000 CE). This temple is also referenced in a Hindu Shahi inscription discovered in Barikot during the late 19th century, which is now preserved in the Lahore Museum. | |||
==Ghaznavid Phase (c. 1000-1100 CE)== | |||
Ghaznavid phase belongs to Macrophase 9a, (c. 1000-1100 CE). | |||
== References == | == References == | ||
{{Reflist}} | {{Reflist}} | ||