Archaeologists Unearth Rare Artefacts at UNESCO-Listed Takshashila Site

Pakistani archaeologists have discovered rare decorative stones and ancient coins during excavations at the UNESCO-listed Bhir Mound near the historic city of Takshashila, offering fresh insights into one of the earliest urban settlements of the ancient Gandhara civilisation.

Artefacts Dating Back to 6th Century BC
The excavation revealed fragments of metamorphic decorative stones identified as lapis lazuli, dating back to the 6th century BC. These findings significantly extend the material record of early urban life in the region.

Kushan-Era Coins Discovered
Alongside the stones, archaeologists unearthed rare bronze coins from the 2nd century AD attributed to the Kushan dynasty. Researchers confirmed that the coins bear the image of Emperor Vasudeva, regarded by historians as the last of the great Kushan rulers.

Iconography Reflects Kushan Legacy
The obverse side of the coins depicts Emperor Vasudeva, while the reverse features a female religious deity. Kushan coinage is known for its rich iconography and multilingual inscriptions, often portraying rulers in Central Asian attire alongside diverse deities such as Helios, Mithra, Shiva, Nana and the Buddha.

Takshashila’s Zenith Under Kushan Rule
Experts noted that the discoveries reaffirm Takshashila’s peak political, cultural and economic significance during Kushan rule, particularly between the 1st and 3rd centuries AD, when the city flourished as a major centre of learning and trade.

Clues to Ancient Trade Networks
The presence of deep-blue lapis lazuli fragments provides valuable evidence of long-distance supply chains and trade networks that connected Gandhara with regions beyond South Asia, highlighting the civilisation’s integration into ancient global exchanges.

Sources: TH