Afghanistans buddhist buried treasure faces destruction. Mes aynak is one of the worlds most significant archaeological excavations. An updated and revised edition of a classic text on the archaeology of afghanistan afghanistan is at the cultural crossroads of asia, where the great civilisations of mesopotamia and iran, south asia and central asia overlapped and sometimes conflicted. Willem vogelsang has been working, intermittently, in afghanistan since 1978, when he worked at the ancient site of old kandahar, in the south of the country, and which is also crowned by a buddhist stupa from the mid first millennium. Archaeologists and academics from around the world agree that mes aynak is a treasure house of antiquities and of the heritage and history of afghanistan s past.
Pieces of buddhist manuscript written in sanskrit on tree bark were discovered on a hillside a few years ago in mes aynak afghanistan s largest copper deposit located in southeast of kabul in a barren region of logar provinceby the afghan institute of archaeology. Saving mes aynak follows afghan archaeologist qadir temori as he races against time to save a 5,000yearold archaeological site in afghanistan from imminent demolition. Is time running out for the 5,000yearold mes aynak. Mes aynak, tepe naranj and the buddhist art of the kabul river valley deborah klimburgsalter institute for art history, university of vienna the first new collections to enter the national museum of afghanistan the kabul museum in 30 years come from the newly excavated buddhist sites of.
Eventually, a wealthy and sprawling buddhist city grew in mes aynak. The archaeology of afghanistan edinburgh university press. Mes aynak contains afghanistans largest copper deposit, as well as the remains of an ancient settlement with over 400 buddha statues, stupas and a 40 ha monastery complex. Only 10% of mes aynak has been excavated, though, and some believe future discoveries at the site have the potential to redefine the history of afghanistan and. Follow archaeologist qadir temori as he races against time to save a 5,000yearold archaeological site in afghanistan from demolition. What is the timetable for mining development at aynak. Aynak will be the subject of a public tender exercise and interested investors will be notified of the terms and conditions.
The wealth of the mes aynak site is based upon ancient trade in the minerals derived from local mining. This site was once an important stop along the ancient silk road trading route. The awardwinning film saving mes aynak uncovers a 5,000 yearold br. The ruins were discovered as labourers excavated the site on behalf. Pieces of buddhist manuscript discovered in mes aynak wadsam. In a barren region of afghanistan s logar province, some 40 kilometers from kabul, lies one of the worlds most significant archeological excavationsthe remains of the ancient settlement of mes aynak, once a city on the fabled silk road network of trade routes that facilitated the exchange of cultures and spiritual traditions across the ancient world. New excavations in afghanistan by the national museum of afghanistan in 2011 offers a glimpse of what the archaeologists have uncovered thus far. Preliminary results from sites 005 and 034, mes aynak. Mes aynak s religious sites and copper deposits have been bound together for centuries mes means copper in the local dari language. Mes aynak was also a key economic center in gandhara, a region spanning whats now eastern afghanistan and northwestern pakistan. Nearly ten years to the day since the taliban destroyed the national museum of afghanistan s preislamic statues, the exhibition, mes aynak. Recent excavations along the silk road by joanie meharry, vol.
In the spring of 1963, a french geologist set out from kabul to carry out a survey in logar province in eastern afghanistan. Buddha from mes aynak, afghanistan, wood, century this may be the oldest wooden image of the buddha anywhere. Rescue excavation of buddhist relics in mes aynak, afghanistan by dianne c. In afghanistan, a chinese mining company threatens to destroy the remains of an ancient buddhist city, which archaeologists are now racing to excavate.
The awardwinning documentary exposes a chinese companys plan to turn a 5,000 yearold archeological site in afghanistan into a copper mine, destroying priceless buddhist relics. Saving mes aynak follows afghan archaeologist qadir temori as he races against time to save a. Sustainable development of natural resources project. Mes aynak, a magnificent buddhist city, is the most important. The largest remaining giant buddha statue is located at this site whereas others of its kind were systematically destroyed by the taliban. Opinion a chinese threat to afghan buddhas the new. Back in 2009, few seemed to know about or care about mes aynak, an ancient buddhist city in afghanistan. Archaeology in logar provincemes aynak heritagedaily. Mes aynak also called mis ainak or miseainak, is a site 40 km 25 mi southeast of kabul, afghanistan, located in a barren region of logar province. Mes aynak archaeological project world bank documents. Looking for an explanation, chinadialogue has obtained exclusive access to a recent report of. Once a prosperous buddhist city on the fabled silk road network, the site houses a wealth of buddhist relics including stupas, statues, and murals. Mes aynak afghanistan, global standards, and local practices with hans h. Mes aynak, meaning small copper deposit in dari, one of.
Mes aynak, 20 miles south of kabul, lies in a province that is still considered a major transit route for insurgents coming from pakistan. It is a thorough and significant record of chinas terrifying reach across the world for the natural resources and sovereignty of underdeveloped countries. The historical and archeological area, which was a former bin laden training site, is endangered by a copper mining company. Pdf mes aynak bashir ahmad rustaqi and jeanbaptiste. Gandhara was a civilizational crossroads, a place where the great religions of hinduism, buddhism, and zoroastrianism met and where ancient greek, persian, central asian. Recent excavations along the silk road from popular archeology by joanie meharry, august 2011 nearly ten years to the day since the taliban destroyed the national museum. Project to exploit afghanistans giant copper deposit languishes. With an introduction by afghanistan expert willem vogelsang. Clashes across afghanistan kill dozens of security force. Curvers this chapter explores several aspects of the project. When afghanistan was under taliban control, mes aynak was the site of an elite al. Afghan government pushes for mining in mes aynak in an agreement. Spotlight on the mes aynak archaeological site in afghanistan. Excavation progress of mes aynak,the ancient buddhist city.
From 20112012 he was the acting director of the afghan institute of archaeology, and general director of the mes aynak excavations. Recent excavations of the buddhist remains from mes aynak. Brent huffman april 23, 2020 field archaeology is dangerous. But it is sitting on a vast copper deposit and is about to be destroyed. Saving mes aynak is tricycles february film club pick, so subscribers can stream the film until february 29, 2020. The story behind chinas longstalled mine in afghanistan. Archaeologists are only beginning to find remnants of an older 5,000yearold bronze age site beneath the buddhist level, including an ancient copper smelter.
Around 1,500 afghan police guard the mine site and the road. Home blog uncategorized china gets an allclear from the taliban to mine for copper in afghani. Spotlight on the mes aynak archaeological site in afghanistan ehsan bayat january 12, 2018 approximately 25 miles southeast of kabul lies the incredible archaeological site of mes aynak, the remains of an ancient buddhist city that was once at the heart of the thriving silk road trade route. Joanie meharry interviews the director of the national museum of afghanistan about the newsmaking significance of the spectacular finds at mes aynak and the new exhibit that showcases some of its most astounding artifacts. Only 10% of mes aynak has been excavated, though, and some believe future discoveries. Khair mohammed khairzada, general director of the mes aynak excavations, will talk about the spectacular finds at this huge archaeological site, which include stupas, statues, many wall paintings, five monastic complexes and a commercial centre.
Part i aynak information pakage british geological survey. Baseball jersey for archie, a popup book for the queen and an air. Mes aynak highlights afghanistans dilemma over protecting. Project to exploit afghanistans giant copper deposit. Sep 23, 2012 from popular archeology by joanie meharry, august 22, 2011 nearly ten years to the day since the taliban destroyed the national museum of afghanistan s preislamic statues, the exhibition, mes aynak.
Logar province, southeast of kabul, is considered one of the most dangerous in afghanistan. Chicago notforprofit documentary collective kartemquin films will release saving mes aynak free to the people of afghanistan. Mes aynak highlights afghanistan s dilemma over protecting heritage this article is more than 6 years old quest for copper riches in mes aynak. Mes aynak, afghanistan less than half an hours drive from kabul, the congested and narrow twolane highway is scarred with craters from improvised explosive devices. About ten years ago, chinese firms signed contracts to mine one of the worlds largest untouched copper deposits here, in a sparsely populated part of logar province that feels remote despite being only 40 kilometres southeast of afghanistan s capital, kabul mes aynak, meaning small copper deposit in dari, one of afghanistan s official languages, is huge. According to archaeologists, mes aynak represents one of the most significant archaeological finds in afghanistan s history and one of immense global importance due to its rare, wellpreserved buddhist artifacts, and to its sheer size. The event held on march 15, 2011 in kabul was jointly comm. The bright sun had partly melted a thin layer of snow on the gentle hills and craggy mountains that surround and intersperse the area. A taliban attack on april 21,2020 at the checkpoint at the mes aynak archaeological site and copper mine killed eight afghan security personnel. Copper workings, smelting workshops, miners habitations, and a mint attest to the early importance of copper mining at mes aynak.
All was quiet at mes aynak during a visit in early february. Mes aynak, also called mis ainak or miseainak, is a site 40 km southeast of kabul, afghanistan, located in a barren region of logar province. Mes aynak, meaning little copper well in dari, comprises an ancient buddhist monastic complex, city, devotional temples, ancient copper mining galleries. Its probably the last motion picture record of this historic archaeological site in afghanistan. Since its publication in 1982, the archaeological gazetteer of afghanistan has become the main reference work for the archaeology of afghanistan, and the standard sites and monuments record for the region. More than 4,000 relics have been recovered from the sites in the past nine years, the acting minister of information and culture, mohammad rasul bawari, said.
The archaeological dig at mes aynak, an ancient buddhist city on the route of the silk road in afghanistan. See our films our latest news find our events shop in our store make a donation get involved. Recent excavations along the silk road, opened at the museum. Charlotte tilbury launches a new magic lip oil infused with. The excavation is by far the most ambitious in afghanistans history. A newly discovered stele from mes aynak, in afghanistan, reveals a depiction of a prince and monk. In the chaos of conflict that followed, the soviets visited mes aynak to dig test tunnels into the hillside and. The ministry of information and culture moic has started the third round of archeological excavations at mes aynak copper mine in logar province. Excavations at mes aynak copper well, afghanistan, a massive buddhist temple complex in danger of demolition due to us war, afghan desperation, and chinese greed science, vol. Archaeologist killed near buddhist archaeological site of. A copy of the new minerals law is included on the cd. The team visited the excavations and was briefed by the national and international archeological delegations that are currently pursuing a salvage excavation of the 2600 year old site. Chinese plans to tap into afghanistans copper wealth have stalled, leaving. China gets an allclear from the taliban to mine for copper in afghanistan you are here.
Mes aynak afghanistan, global standards, and local. Afghanistan s buddhist buried treasure faces destruction mes aynak, a magnificent buddhist city, is the most important archaeological discovery in a generation. Mes aynak is missing link showing afghanistan s historic role in asia he says destroying mes aynak is equivalent to wiping machu picchu off the map please bear with me as i ask you to. No one wants to be blamed for similarly razing history at mes aynak, in the eastern province of logar. Project to exploit afghanistan s giant copper deposit languishes. The faces of ancient local figures depicted in painted clay evoke a time when mes aynak was a crossroads of central asia. The story behind chinas longstalled mine in afghanistan nine years after chinese companies took control of mes aynak, copper extraction has yet to start.
The documentary saving mes a ynak premiered at the 2014 idf a film. A member of the archaeological team working to save the rich cultural heritage of mes aynak. Company digging mine in afghanistan unearths 2,600yearold. There is relatively little evidence of posteighthcentury activity at this site, but mes aynak is joined by nearby sites including khawar, which archaeologists deem to be equally rich and containing magnificent examples of the buddhist heritage of afghanistan. Published at occassion of the exhibition mes aynak recent discoveries along the silk road at national museum of afghanistan, kabul, 2011. China gets an allclear from the taliban to mine for.
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