Cultural Continuity of Gandhara Art Motifs in Stone Crafts of Taxila Valley

Abstract

The aim of the study is to analyse the cultural continuity of Gandhara art motifs in stone crafts of Taxila Valley. Pakistan has a rich cultural heritage. Its North West Frontier province and adjoining district of Punjab remained the center of greatest cultural activities. Taxila is the city of stone. The city has its historical and cultural importance. The artisans in Taxila are working on stones to make crafts. They are using Gandhara art motifs on stones from centuries. The questions how much variation has come in these motifs stylistically? And why from centuries motifs are continued are important. The present study is to answer these questions. An analytical approach is to be used to understand cultural continuity of Gandhara art motifs on stone crafts of Taxila valley. Primary and secondary sources are used. The study is about the importance of historical and archaeological city of Taxila valley, Gandhara art and its aims and an analysis of cultural continuity of Gandhara art motifs on stone crafts of Taxila valley. The study tells us that no change is seen in the use of Gandhara art motifs in modern times but variation in style or design is seen somewhere. The design motifs are in some pieces are small and on other are large. Artisans working on generations are presenting a good work from centuries.