Transcript Yamauchi-Aachen

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
TB
QD
GA
JSh
Shahr-i
Gholgola
Taibutî, Gharîbâbâd, Qâzî Daûtî, and Jû-yi Shahr
(1) Taibutî Area
WG
B
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.
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.
TB3
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.
(2) Gharîbâbâd Area
WG
B
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.
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).
GA1
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.
(3) Qâzî Daûtî Area
EGB
WGB
Qazi Dauti
Gharibaba
d
Ju-yi
Shahr
Shahr-i
Gholgola
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.
(4) Jû-yi Shahr Area
EGB
WG
B
Gharibaba
d
Qazi Dauti
Ju-yi
Shahr
Shahr-i
Gholgola
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.