Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/6371
Title: Classification and stylistic analysis of Zar Dheri sculptures Shinkiari Hazara
Authors: Abdul Azeem
Keywords: Archaeology
Issue Date: 2016
Publisher: Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad
Abstract: The present work is the study of sculptures and architectural elements from Zar Dher in Shinkiari area of district Mansehra in Hazara division of the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, analysis of selected pieces and their comparison with important Gandharan Buddhist sites in Pakistan. While holistic approach was adopted for the study and anslysis of the Zar Dheri sculptures, the comparison was made on the basis of important and striking features of our sculptures from Zar Dheri with those from other such sites having striking resemblance in certain particular aspects with the Zar Dheri sculptures. All prevailing research methodologies were suitably employed during the course of this research. Chronological, descriptive and analytical methods were used for a comprehensive research and understanding of the basic purpose and theme, efforts were made to visit the site, the original objects unearthed from the site presently housed in the Peshawar Museum, collections in Peshawar Museum, Swat Museum, Taxila Museum, Lahore Museum and National Museum of Pakistan, Karachi were also examined to get primary information through visual observations and in-depth study of sculptures having close resemblance with our sculptures from Zar Dheri. Sculptural wealth from Gandhara currently housed in different museums abroad and available for study and comparison in books, articles and catalogues were also consulted. Serious discussions were also held xxiv with senior archaeologists and university professors who had considerable experience in the Gandhara art and their feedback on views expressed by the researcher was of immense importance for improvement the quality of this research. Secondary sources in the form of publications are available in huge quantity. Efforts were made to consult as much of the published material as possible. The published works of all prominent archaeologists, researchers and scholars e.g. (Ackermann, Hans Christoph (1975), Khan, M. Ashraf (1996), Buchthal, H. (1945), Callieri, P et al. (1992), Luca. (2011), Dainobu, Y (2004), Dani, A.H. (1965-66), Dani, A.H. (1995), Dani, A. H. (1968-69a), Dani, A H. (1968-69b), Dani, A H. (1978), Dani, A H. (1983), Dar, S.R. (2006), Dar, S. R. (1998), Dar, S. R. (1999-2000), Deane, H. A. (1896), Faccenna, D & Filigenzi, A (2007), Faccenna, D (1995), Faccenna, D (2001), Faccenna, D. (1964-65), Faccenna, D. (1980-81), Faccenna, D. (1995), Faccenna, D. (1995a), Faccenna, D. (2002), Faccenna, D. (2006), Faccenna, D. (2007), Faccenna, D. A.N. Khan and I.H. Nadiem (1993), Faccenna, D. and A. Filigenzi (2007), Faccenna, D. and P. Spangesi (2014), Faccenna, D. P. Callieri, and A. Filigenzi (1984), Faccenna, Domenico, S. Lorenzoni Luca M. Olivieri and Zanettin Lorenzoni. (1993), Faccenna, Domenico. (1980-1981), Faccenna. D (1980-80); Swati, Muhammad Farooq (1997), Swati, M. Farooq et al (2002), Filigenzi, A. (2014), Filigenzi, Anna. (2003), Filigenzi, Anna. (2011), Foucher, A. (19015/2005), Foucher, A. (1905-1951), Foucher, A. (1917/1994), Foucher, A. (1942), Ghafoor, Abdul (2016), Lohuizen-deeeuw et. Al. (198, Khan, Ashraf & Hassan, Mehmood-ul xxv (2010), Khan, Muhammad Ashraf (2004), Khan, Muhammad Ashraf and Muhammad Farooq Swati (2012), Khan, Muhammad Ashraf (2004), Khan, Nasim (2010), Khan, Shah Nazar (2002-2003), Koizumi, Y. (2007), Koizumi, Y. (2008a & b), Koizumi, Y. (2002), NHK: 86-93, Krishan, Y (1966), Kurita, I. (2003), Lohuizen-de Leeuw van, E. (1989), MacDowall, D.W. and P. Cllieri (2004), Makin Khan (1998), Marshall, J, (1951), Marshall, John. (1945/2006), Marshall, John. (1960/2008), Odani. N.(1996), Olivieri, L.M. (1993), Olivieri, Luca M and Massimo Vidale, et al. (2006), Olivieri. M. Luca. (2014), Qamar, Mian Said and Muhammad Ashraf Khan. (1991), Qamar, Mian Said. (2004), Qamar. M.S. (1990), Qamar. M.S. and S.N. Khan (1998), Qamar. MS & Khan, Ashraf (1980- 90), Rahim. Gul (2015), Rahman, A. (1993a), Rahman, Abdur. (1993), Rahman, Abdur. (2001), Rahman, Abdur. (2011), Rhaman, Abdur and Sardar Mohammad. (1984), Sardar, B (2009), Sardar, B. (1995), Sardar, Badshah. (2005), Schmidt, Carolyn Woodford. (1990), Spagnesi, Peiro. (2006), Swati, M.F. (1997-A), Taddei, M. (1987), Taddei, M. (2006), Taddei, Maurzio. (1998), Tanweer, Tahira (2010), Tanweer, Tahira. (2011), Tissot, Francine (1985), Tokyo National Museum Archaeological Mission to Pakistan, Archaeological Survey in Pakistan – Reports of 1992, 1994, 2001, 2002, and 2011, Tucci G. (1958) were consulted for enhancing knowledge and understanding about the present research. Qualitative and quantitative methods were also employed. Comparative study of the artefacts from Zar Dheri with the large body of the kind of artefacts from the xxvi surrounding regions with chronological developments were carefully undertaken as the most important aspect of this research, leading to some definite conclusions based on realism and rationality. This research is thus a mix of all the prevailing approaches and the method, techniques and tools of research. The Japanese scholars have opined that these sculptures have close stylistic affinity with those found from Swat (Yoshihide, K 2011:297-320), but at the same time they also opine, “dating the Zar Dheri sculptures is not easy, but a comparison with similar examples in the vicinity shows that stylistically, they can be assigned a rather early era of Gandharan art”. (Yoshihide, Koizumi 2008). They have done no comparative study and has based their opinion on a general style and material based study, mainly of Butkara-I and Dharmarajaki complex at Taxila and hypothetical in nature. This researcher broadened the scope of the study and research to include specimens from different Buddhist sites in broader Swat Valley and the ancient Gandhara country i.e. Peshawar Valley and the areas across the Indus including Taxila. The extensive comparative study of identical objects from known Buddhist sites throughout the ancient Gandhara and Uddhiyana with the sculptures from Zar Dheri also brought forth similarities in style and material, but the dominant influence as proved through this research clearly came from Swat. xxvii The study and comparison was, therefore, enlarged for valid reason to gain more authenticity for our findings and acceptance for the outcome of this research. We looked for possible quarries of the schist used in our sculptures and after finding no evidence as yet in the entire Hazara division, we also looked for the possiblity of import of stone from other regions or even the import of these sculptures to Zar Dheri Buddhist establishment in carved and refined form from some other place. It was on the basis of the multipronged approach, diverse study and analysis and researches of scholars on Gandhara art and architecture that final conclusion was derived.
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/6371
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