When this name is mentioned, many people may not recognize what it refers to. It is the name of a large monastic complex located in the Swat Valley of Pakistan. The site was explored and excavated starting in 1903 by Jean Philippe Vogel, a Dutch archaeologist and professor at the University of Amsterdam. He was an expert in Sanskrit and Indian Studies and was invited to serve as the director of archaeological excavations in the Northwestern Province.
He came to investigate and excavate this ancient Buddhist site and discovered numerous artifacts. The Buddhist art found here is in the Gandhara style, featuring Greek-style facial features. A total of 123 Buddha heads were unearthed, 51 of which were complete statues. The largest one, seen in the photograph, is over 3 meters tall and found in a reclining position.
The stupas at this site were carved with images of the Buddha surrounding them. Vogel instructed workers to saw off the carvings so they could be transported and preserved in a museum (as shown in the photograph), and the site was then declared a protected archaeological area.
However, after the region became part of the nation of Pakistan, the Buddhist site was neglected. Local villagers began constructing Muslim graves (kubur) within the area, and today, the site has become a large cemetery.
