Statue of Budha at Bhamala termed oldest

HARIPUR: The Mahaparinirvana statue of Buddha in Bhamala is considered the world’s oldest in terms of history, size and material, and is the most attractive heritage site of the Gandhara civilization.

This was stated by Dr Abdul Hameed, an assistant professor of the Archaeology Department at Hazara University, while speaking at the fortnightly Lok Chopal programme of Taxila Stone Arts held at Pind Gakhra in Khanpur on Monday.

Dr Hameed addressed a gathering of archaeologists, development scientists, educators, health and media professionals, and literati. Prominent among those present included Dr Zafar Mirza, health advisor of the previous PTI government, Anjum Dara, curator from Taxila Museum, and renowned bibliophile Raja Noor Muhammad Nizami. Ayaz Gul Kiyani moderated the session.

Dr Abdul Hameed, who led the research excavation of the Bhamala site from 2012 to 2015 in a joint project of Hazara University and the University of Wisconsin, USA, spoke from his book “Bhamala,” covering its history, art, architecture, and tourism potential.

Justifying his point that Bhamala’s cruciform stupa was unique, he said that it dates back to the 3rd century BC and features a 14-meter-long Mahanirvana statue of Buddha, which is the world’s largest in size.

He said the statue’s material, kanjoor stone, sets it apart from others discovered earlier, which were made of schist stone or red sandstone. In Taxila, stucco and terracotta were previously used as materials.

Dr Hameed pointed out that the statue’s structure was similar to those discovered in Indian-held Kashmir, differing from those in Taxila. Analysing facial shape, hairstyle, and other stylistic elements, he stated, “We found it similar to those found in Kashmir.”

He added that Bhamala’s location on the right bank of Harrow River , the water source of Khanpur Dam, provided a direct land route to Kashmir during the Buddhist era.Saying that Bhamala’s stupa closely follows the Kashmiri style, he noted differences such as terracotta floors in Taxila’s stupas compared to tiles used around the Bhamala stupa.

Responding to a question, Dr Hameed mentioned that during the excavation, researchers found 300-plus antiquities from the 3rd century BC, including silver coins, small sculptures, combs, pottery, material objects, and door fittings. He reported that conservation work supervised by the Directorate of Archaeology Peshawar was underway, and the stupa is expected to be open for visitors within a year.

The expert stressed the growing need for community archaeology in the conservation and preservation of archaeological sites. He stated that unless the local community actively engages and takes responsibility, historical sites cannot be adequately protected and conserved.

Referring to different experiences, he said that community engagement not only protected against damage and illegal digging but also served as a source of income and promotion.The event concluded with a question-answer session.