Site 8: Taxila KP

Site 8a

Sirsukh (33°46′20.12″ N, 72°50′59.06″ E) is located at an average altitude of 500 m above sea level in the Potohar Valley, Haripur District, Hazara Division. The ancient city, bounded to the northeast by the Harro River and to the south by the Lundi River, was excavated on a very small scale in 1915–16 by J. Marshall ("Taxila: An Illustrated Account of Archaeological Excavations Carried Out at Taxila Under the Orders of the Government of India between the years 1913 and 1934". Cambridge, p. 217). It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1980 as part of Taxila. The urban site of Sirsukh features a quadrangular layout measuring nearly 1500 meters along its northern and southern sides, and 1100 meters along its eastern and western sides. Although Marshall dated the site to the mature Kushan period (c. 2nd–3rd century CE), there are no data confirming this chronology. It was established by the British archaeologist based on a model of progressive displacement of Taxila's urban centres and his chronology of the city of Sirkap, which has now been extensively revised toward a more recent dating.

Site 8b

Jandial C (33°45'52”N, 72°49'44”E) is located at an altitude of approx. 530.00 m above sea level. The temple is considered a classical Eastern temple. It was identified, perhaps rightly so, by J. Marshall as the temple visited in the mid-1st century CE by Apollonius of Tyana, according to Philostratus' narrative.

“And they saw a temple, they say, in front of the wall, which was nearly 100 feet long, made of porphyry, and inside it a shrine had been built, rather small compared to the great size of the temple, also surrounded by columns and noteworthy. On each of its walls were nailed bronze tablets on which the deeds of Porus and Alexander were engraved. But the design was executed with orichalcum, silver, gold, and black bronze, and elephants, horses, soldiers, helmets, shields, spears, javelins, and swords could be seen, all made of iron; and, if we are to believe the accounts, in a respectable artistic style reminiscent of Zeuxis or Polygnotus and Euphranor, who loved light and shade and breathed life into their designs, as well as a sense of depth and relief.”
(II, XX)

The building, oriented N-S, stands on an artificial mound; it is a distyle temple “in antis”, with two limestone Ionic columns, of which bases and capitals remain. The layout includes a “naos”, “pronaos”, and “opisthodomos” at the rear. Two Ionic columns at the front are framed by two antae. The temple featured an outer enclosure with windows or doors, or rather niches. The dimensions of the temple are approximately 45 x 30 meters. Unfortunately, Marshall's poorly documented data (1912–13) and his heavy restorations have so far prevented an accurate and philological study of the monument.

Site 8c

Jandial D is a second temple, similar to the previous one, located a few hundred meters away. It also stands on an artificial hill and is oriented approximately N-S. The monument was excavated by A. Cunningham in 1863–64, but was deemed of little interest by Marshall (see Cunningham, A. (1872) "Four reports made during the years 1862-63-64-65". I-II [vol. II, pp. 131-132]. Archaeological Survey of India: New Delhi).

Sito 8d

Bhamala (33°50′N 72°58′E) is located at an average altitude of 520.00 m above sea level.  This is a Buddhist sacred area featuring a central stupa with a cruciform plan (c. 3rd–5th century CE), excavated by Marshall and continued by the DOAM KP (Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa). The sanctuary includes a monastery as well as chapels and minor stupas. Notably, it features a gigantic reclining Buddha statue (in “parinirvana”) and niches with stucco figures discovered by the DOAM KP behind the main structure in the southwestern sector of the sanctuary (more information in Bhamāla Excavations 2015-16: A Preliminary Report and in Preliminary Report of Bhamala Excavations (2012 - 2013)).

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