GANDHARAN RELIEFS FROM AMLUK-DARA STUPA SWAT: ITS HISTORY, ANAYLISIS AND CLASSIFICATION

Abstract

This research is focused on one of the important collections of cultural material exclusively stone sculptures, excavated from the largest Buddhist Stupa site of Amluk dara in district Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The excavation was carried out in 2012 under the supervision of Dr. Luca Maria Olivieri, the Director of the Italian Archaeological Mission to Pakistan, in collaboration with the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Peshawar (DoAM) (Olivieri et al. 2014 and Olivieri 2018). The antiquities excavated from the site are currently housed in Archaeological Museum of Saidu Sharif Swat. Although, some of these materials have been studied by the excavator, yet most of art pieces needed in depth study and worthy to be shared with scholars and researchers interested in the Buddhist art of Gandhara. The main objective of the current research is therefore to study these antiquities for its religious, cultural, historical and artistic and iconographic importance. The bulk of antiquity from Amluk-dara shed light on the cultural life of the ancient people, as it depicts the dresses from lower class to elite class, houses, weapons, ornaments, daily use tools, agricultural tools, musical instruments and cult objects. People are shown in different activities like playing, worshipping, engaged in offering, marriages, music and wrestling. All these activities reflect a very clear contemporary cultural scenario of the area. This research is divided in six chapters. The first chapter deals with the introduction to topic and brief description of Swat valley. The second chapter discusses the archaeological activities in Swat including the contributions of individuals and different institutions. The third chapter is all about the Amluk-dara stupa, describing the research work about the stupa and description of monuments exposed during the excavations. . The fourth chapter treats with periodization and stratigraphic detail of the stupa. The fifth chapter is based on the descriptive catalogue xxi of selected sculptures incorporated in the present research. Whereas, the sixth chapter, which is the last one in the series, discusses the comparative study, analysis and classification of the art pieces according to subject matter, which almost illustrates all the major events related to the life of Buddha. The sculptures show that all the figures are carved with great care, by keeping in view the socio-cultural condition, and contemporary architectural tradition of the area. Objectives of the present research Swat is very important for historical and Archaeological point of view. Italian Archaeological Mission has started exploration and excavation in Swat since 1956. Various sites have been excavated and explored and documented by the organization. The site of Amluk-dara is excavated in 2012 and the Reliefs found in Amluk-dara is still waiting for proper documentation and analysis. Therefore, the main objectives of the present research are as mentioned below. 1. Proper documentation of the Reliefs and history and background of the reliefs of Amluk-dara. 2. By scientific research methodology classification of the reliefs of Amluk-dara. 3. To prepare catalogue for the relief of Amluk-dara. 4. Identification of these narrative reliefs according to the subject matter. 5. Comparative study of regional styles of the reliefs with other reliefs discovered from Buddhist complexes in Swat. Research problem The main problem pertaining to the relief panel discovered from Amluk-dara is that most of them are not published. Similarly, comparative analysis have not been carried out. Moreover, it is not yet known that whether these relief panels were fashioned locally or imported from the nearby/faraway workshops of Buddhist sculptures. xxii Therefore, the present research is focused on finding answers to the above-mentioned problems. Significance of the research As the stupa of Amluk-dara is the largest stupa in the Swat valley, however owing to natural calamities and human vandalism, the monastery and other associated buildings have been vanished, and till 2012, no scientific research is conducted to highlight its great religious and artistic importance. However, thanks to Italian Archaeological mission in Pakistan who carried out proper scientific excavation with the collaboration of Department of Archaeology and Museums of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, through which new data has been obtained on which the present research is focused. I hope that the proposed research will contribute a lot to the forgotten history of this important site and the role it has played in the development of Buddhism and Buddhist artistic activities in the Swat valley. Research methodology The research will be carried out on systematic way. A comprehensive catalogue will be made which provide each and every detail of the material, including its physical measurements and its existing condition along with digital photographs. Analytical research will guide us about its importance.