In recent years the international community has begun to focus on the dangerous state of conservation of Buddhist heritage in the Swat Valley (Pakistan). Not only are these religious complexes abandoned and decaying, they are also subject to attacks and destruction. However local populations and the international community both appear disinterested in this issue. The scope of this study is to contribute to the archaeological history of Swat by adding new data to existing information about the architectural history of Gandhara and its religious buildings. The study, involving a survey and photographic campaign, focused on the Tokar-Dara 1 site in the Swat Valley. It enabled the author to not only identify the different building phases, but also to get a better understand of the masonry, construction techniques, and architectural and typological features of the buildings in the archaeological area. The latter includes a main stūpa, a vihara, a monastery, an assembly hall, and a badly damaged aqueduct and cistern. The architectural remains spread 228 metres to the north and south, and 206 metres to the east and west. The stupa, with a hemispherical dome and upper and lower drums resting on a square podium, was once surrounded by votive stupas completely destroyed by unauthorized diggers. The diaper masonry stupa was originally covered in lime plaster. The drum of the dome measuring 10.67 m in diameter is decorated with cornices framed by vertical stone slabs. The rectangular monastery has two entrances: one to the north leading to the main stūpa, and one to the south leading to the assembly hall. Square-shaped domed cells surround the free side of the cloister. The high walls of a hall used as an assembly room by the Buddhist community are located near the corner of the monastery court. To the east, the remains of a vihara are surrounded by walls on three sides. The relic shrine resting on a square plinth with base moulding is accessed by a flight of steps.

The Buddhist site of Tokar-Dara 1 (Swāt, Pakistan). Building techniques in the Ancient Gandhāra / Turco, Maria Grazia. - STAMPA. - IV(2014), pp. 1007-1014. ((Intervento presentato al convegno all’International multidisciplinary scientific conferences on Social Sciences & Arts, SGEM Conference 2014 on Arts, Performing arts, Architecture and Design tenutosi a Albena (Bulgaria) nel 1-10 September 2014. [10.5593/SGEMSOCIAL2014/B41/515.122].

The Buddhist site of Tokar-Dara 1 (Swāt, Pakistan). Building techniques in the Ancient Gandhāra

TURCO, Maria Grazia
2014

Abstract

In recent years the international community has begun to focus on the dangerous state of conservation of Buddhist heritage in the Swat Valley (Pakistan). Not only are these religious complexes abandoned and decaying, they are also subject to attacks and destruction. However local populations and the international community both appear disinterested in this issue. The scope of this study is to contribute to the archaeological history of Swat by adding new data to existing information about the architectural history of Gandhara and its religious buildings. The study, involving a survey and photographic campaign, focused on the Tokar-Dara 1 site in the Swat Valley. It enabled the author to not only identify the different building phases, but also to get a better understand of the masonry, construction techniques, and architectural and typological features of the buildings in the archaeological area. The latter includes a main stūpa, a vihara, a monastery, an assembly hall, and a badly damaged aqueduct and cistern. The architectural remains spread 228 metres to the north and south, and 206 metres to the east and west. The stupa, with a hemispherical dome and upper and lower drums resting on a square podium, was once surrounded by votive stupas completely destroyed by unauthorized diggers. The diaper masonry stupa was originally covered in lime plaster. The drum of the dome measuring 10.67 m in diameter is decorated with cornices framed by vertical stone slabs. The rectangular monastery has two entrances: one to the north leading to the main stūpa, and one to the south leading to the assembly hall. Square-shaped domed cells surround the free side of the cloister. The high walls of a hall used as an assembly room by the Buddhist community are located near the corner of the monastery court. To the east, the remains of a vihara are surrounded by walls on three sides. The relic shrine resting on a square plinth with base moulding is accessed by a flight of steps.
2014
International multidisciplinary scientific conferences on Social Sciences & Arts
978-619-7105-30-8
restauro; architettura del gandhara; restauro architettonico; swat (pakistan)
02 Pubblicazione su volume::02a Capitolo o Articolo
The Buddhist site of Tokar-Dara 1 (Swāt, Pakistan). Building techniques in the Ancient Gandhāra / Turco, Maria Grazia. - STAMPA. - IV(2014), pp. 1007-1014. ((Intervento presentato al convegno all’International multidisciplinary scientific conferences on Social Sciences & Arts, SGEM Conference 2014 on Arts, Performing arts, Architecture and Design tenutosi a Albena (Bulgaria) nel 1-10 September 2014. [10.5593/SGEMSOCIAL2014/B41/515.122].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/601582
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