Archaeological Investigation in Bamiyan, 2006

carried out by NRICP, Japan

Kazuya YAMAUCHI

NRICP (National Research Institute for Cultural Properties) , Japan

• Since 2003, NRICP has been conducting an archaeological survey, and a geophysical survey accompanied with archaeological soundings in Bamiyan to determine the area of cultural and archaeological zone which should be protected from the local development.

• The archaeological soundings carried out in the sixth and seventh missions were part of the above project and we aimed to identify the unknown buried cultural heritage in the Bamiyan Valley. Four areas were selected and investigated: Taibutî, Gharîbâbâd, Qâzî Daûtî, and Jû-yi Shahr.

• The period of each mission was as follows: Sixth Mission:…………19 June ~14 July 2006 (Stay in Bamiyan from 21 June to 11 July) Seventh Mission:…….11 September ~16 October 2006 (Stay in Bamiyan from 13 September and 10 October)

EGB

WGB

Shahr-i Gholgola

JSh

TB

QD

GA

Taibutî, Gharîbâbâd, Qâzî Daûtî, and Jû-yi Shahr

WGB

The area is located on the southern edge of an alluvial fan, south of the Surkh Qol Valley, and southwest of the West Giant Buddha. Two operations (TB 2 and TB 3) were carried out.

(1) Taibutî Area

At TB 2, a deep well which contained abundant glazed wares and pottery of the Islamic period was unearthed.

We were able to obtain an important ceramic assemblage from a single context.

Apart from the above result, the investigation in this area revealed that there is a low possibility that the buried cultural heritage exists to the south of the main road which runs east-west in the Bamiyan Valley and below the alluvial fan to the south of the Surkh Qol Valley.

TB3

WGB

The area is located to the southwest of the West Giant Buddha. A total of seven operations (GA 1 ~ 7) were carried out. We assumed that this area include the area of "Royal Palace" mentioned in Xuan Zang’s Da Tang Xiyu Ji (Record of the West in the Great Tang Period) and some remains related to the "Royal Palace" should be revealed.

(2) Gharîbâbâd Area

GA1

However, no archaeological remains were unearthed that suggest the existence of the "Royal Palace" or the presence of the Buddhist Period remains, though we discovered an Islamic cemetery (GA 1), a ditch-like structure (GA 3), and a part of ancient road (GA 5).

GA3

GA3

GA5

In conclusion, there is a low chance of buried cultural heritage exists in the western part of the Gharîbâbâd Area. Nevertheless, we need to continue our search of buried cultural heritage from the front to the east of the West Giant Buddha.

Shahr-i Gholgola

Qazi DautiGharibabad

Ju-yi Shahr

WGBEGB

(3) Qâzî Daûtî Area

The area is located around 200 m south-southwest of the East Giant Buddha. An earthern 　 and gravel foundation dated to the Buddhist period was unearthed in the sounding conducted during the fifth mission (Nov.-Dec. 2005: Operation 1).

In the seventh mission, we aimed to reveal the size of this structure and the related remains. A total of four operations (Operation 2 to 5) was carried out.

The result showed that an extremely large earthern 　 and gravel foundation dated to the Buddhist period (around AD 7th to 8th centuries) was identified approximately 1.6~1.8 m below the ground level.

If the structure is a square-shaped, one side measured around 40 m.

Thus, indicating a high possibility of rich cultural heritage buried to the southwest of the East Giant Buddha.

Shahr-i Gholgola

Qazi DautiGharibabad

Ju-yi Shahr

WGB

EGB

(4) Jû-yi Shahr Area

The area is located to the northwest of Shahr-i Gholghola. The area contains a heavily damaged architectural remain constructed of cobble stone and mud which we assumed to be a Buddhist stupa. The structure was identified by the NRICP mission in July 2004.

During the fifth mission, we carried out a geophysical survey using ground penetrating radar and electrical resistivity method, and an archaeological sounding around the "stupa". The sounding revealed a platform which we assumed to be that of stupa. The seventh mission aimed to investigate the platform of the stupa more thoroughly. We made two operations in the north and the other to the west of stupa.

The result showed that the foundation of the stupa’s platform remained in the west operation. The length of an unearthed foundation measured 2.3 m.

The foundation was constructed by using cut limestone slabs. Only the lowest row of the foundation was discovered.

The foundation seems to bend in a right angle at the edge of the test-trench, suggesting that the unearthed part was a joint of the main body of stupa’s platform and its west projected part.

The discovery confirmed that the structure was indeed a Buddhist stupa and also provided significant information on its ground plan. In addition, the surface of the stupa was probably covered by limestone slabs since we found many fragments of worked limestone during the sounding. Some fragments were curved in a pillar shape.

Program in 2007

• To continue an archaeological survey, and a geophysical survey to determine the area of cultural and archaeological zone which should be protected from the future local development.

• To continue the archaeological soundings to identify the unknown buried cultural heritage in the Bamiyan Valley.