A survey team of the Taxila Institute of Asian Civilisations (TIAC), a subsidiary institution of the Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), has documented 450 heritage sites in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and Rawalpindi division that need protection and preservation under a holistic national programme.
Initiated in 2009, the team, headed by TIAC Director Professor Dr. M. Ashraf Khan, took two years for completion of the survey and data is currently being compiled to pave the way for publication of a book early next year. Other survey team members included assistant professor Ghani-ur-Rehman, lecturer Sadeed Arif and a PhD student, Zulfiqar Ali Kalhoro.
According to data, the new heritage sites include 150 Buddhist settlements, 140 caves, 100 ancient ponds and 30 rock shelters and Hindu temples each. Some of the sites are believed to belong to one of the oldest civilisations in the world.
The mural paintings and engraved walls of the ancient sites documented in the survey show rich cultural traditions of old civilisations and offer too much to visitors such as Sangni Fort (Gujar Khan), Pakka Sarai (Khanpur), Dhan Ghali Fortress, Takkal Settlement Site, Shahbagh Baoli (Ghazanabad), Khem Singh Bedi Haveli (Kallar Syedan), Krishna Temple (Kallar Syedan) and Gurdvara (Kanoha).
Visit to some of the historical sites showed that most of the mounds have been converted into cultivated fields or graveyards and old ‘sarais’ and forts replaced by modern habitations. Temples and ‘gurdwaras’ are being used as cattle sheds or fodder stores by local inhabitants.
The survey stated that these historic monuments are in deteriorated condition, which indicated an absence of interest in their preservation and protection and little sense of national responsibility.
“These relics of the past are going to disappear completely, while others have been left at the mercy of locals who exploit them in different ways. These signs of the past are located close to the federal capital in peaceful areas that could attract visitors,” said Professor Dr. M. Ashraf Khan.
The historical period monuments are known from ‘sarais’ and ‘baolis’ lining along ancient routes, forts and religious places of Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs in this small packet of semi-arid plateau.
The data revealed that almost all the Hindu temples are believed to have been built by Hindus during the Sikh period. Many towns in Rawalpindi like Daulatala, Sukho and Dora Badal once boasted Hindu temples. Majority of temples had not survived and those have survived the vagaries of weather and human vandalism are located in Gulyana, Kallar Syedan, Sagri, Haryal, Beval and Taxila.
Rawalpindi district and Islamabad, a transitional region between the highlands of Swat, Kashmir and Hazara and alluvial plains of the Punjab played a very active role in human history. The earliest stone tools used by human beings in this region some two million years ago have been recovered by the survey team along the course of the River Soan near Rawat.
Internationally acclaimed archaeologist late Prof. Dr. Ahmad Hasan Dani was founding director of TIAC of the Quaid-i-Azam University since its establishment in 1997 and founding director of the Islamabad Museum.
TIAC carried out a comprehensive research in the Potohar plateau under the directions of Dr. Dani in areas such as Chakwal, Khushab, Salt Range, Thatta, Chiniot Hills, Jhelum Valley and Margalla Hills and reported a considerable number of archaeological and heritage sites.
Professor Dr. M. Ashraf Khan told ‘The News’ that they have documented the archaeological sites as old as one million B.C. and remains of the sacred places of various civilisations including Buddhist and Hindus.
He said the sites they have documented included forts, tombs, step wells (baolis), mounds, stupas, ‘ashnan ghat’ (bath tank), temples, ‘gurdwaras’ besides fossilised trees and stones.
Dr. Ashraf Khan said that Department of Archaeology and Museum (Ministry of Culture) is responsible for preservation and conservation of the historical sites under National Antiquity Act 1975 (approved by the parliament) however, the limited resources are a big reason behind the dilapidated condition of these sites. “TIAC also have minimal resources as the annual research budget of the department is as low as 0.5 million,” he said.
He said that the major recommendations they have given after the survey include the funding for the archaeological excavations to know about the period to which some civilisation belong, fencing around the sites in order to protect them from vandalism, installation of information board for convenience of the visitors, deployment of security guards, concrete steps to remove encroachment from historical sites.
The TIAC director said that the international donors are also supporting the ministry as well as the department for preservation of the archaeological sites. For this ‘US Ambassador Fund for Culture and Heritage’ had donated Rs6 million for excavation and preservation of Jina Wali Deri while UNESCO funded preservation of Rani Gaht, Mardan.
Authors: Saadia Khalid & Noor Aftab | Source: The News [December 26, 2010]