The Buddhist Collection of Wali-e Swat: Its History, Classification and Analysis by Tahira Tanweer INSTITUTE OF ARCHAEOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY FACULTY OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES UNIVERSITY OF PESHAWAR 2010 The Buddhist Collection of Wali-e Swat: Its History, Classification and Analysis Dissertation submitted to the Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Peshawar in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Approved by: 1. Professor Dr. M. Farooq Swati Institute of Archaeology & Anthropology University of Peshawar Supervisor 2. Internal Examiner 3. External Examiner INSTITUTE OF ARCHAEOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY UNIVERSITY OF PESHAWAR 2010 2 C O N T E N T S Chapter Page Preface iv Acknowledgements v Maps viii List of Tables x Abbreviations xi 1 Introduction and Brief History of the Wali’s Collection 1 Introduction 1 The Beginning of Archaeological Research in the Swat Valley 3 The History and Sources of the Wali’s Collection 4 Subject Matter of the Wali’s Collection 5 2 Cultural History and Geography of the Swat Valley 8 Nomenclature of Swat 8 Cultural and Historical Profile of the Swat Valley 8 Geography of the Swat Valley 18 Population and Human Settlements 22 Flora and Fauna 23 3 Catalogue of the Wali’s Collection 26 Catalogue of Wali-e Swat Collection 26 4 Classification and Analysis on the Basis of Zonal 89 Workshops Classification of the Collection 89 Classification on the Subject Matter 89 Jātakas or Previous Births’ Stories of the Buddha 89 The Life Story of the Buddha 90 Classification of the Collection on the Basis of Zonal 101 Workshops The Jambil Sub-Valley Zonal Workshop 102 The Adinzai and Shamozai Sub-Valleys Workshop 103 The Illum Khawaṛ Sub-Valley Zonal Workshop 103 Analysis of the Collection 104 Statistical Analysis 104 i Descriptive Analysis 105 Life Story of the Buddha 106 Individual Buddha Images 109 Individual Images of Bodhisattvas 109 Secular Scenes 110 Architectural Elements 111 Garland Bearer Reliefs 113 5 Chronology of the Wali’s Collection 114 Chronology on the Basis of Style and Material 114 Evolutionary Stages of the Swat Style 116 The First Stage 116 The Second Stage 120 The Third Stage 121 Stylistic Analysis on the Basis of ‘Zonal Workshops’ 122 The Jambil Sub-Valley, First Stage 124 The Jambil Sub-Valley, Second Stage 125 The Jambil Sub-Valley, Third Stage 125 The Illum Khawaṛ Sub-Valley, First Stage 126 The Illum Khawaṛ Sub-Valley, Second Stage 126 The Illum Khawaṛ Sub-Valley, Third Stage 127 The Shamozai Sub-Valleys, Second Stage 127 The Shamozai Sub-Valleys, Third Stage 127 Chronological Analysis 127 Types of Material Used for Sculpture in the Khyber 128 Pakhtunkhwa The Use of Stone as a Medium in Swat 129 Ancient Quarries in Swat 131 Opinion of Scholars Regarding Type of Stone 132 Analysis of Stone Sculpture of the Wali-e Swat Collection 133 Zone-wise Statistical Analysis of the Material of Wali-e Swat 133 Collection Zone-wise Statistical Analysis of the Material of Wali-e Swat 133 Collection The Jambil Sub-valley First Stage 133 The Ilum Khawaṛ Sub-valley 134 The Shamozai Sub-valley 134 Stucco 134 Terracotta 135 ii 6 Conclusion of the Present Research Work 138 Developmental Stages of Art in the Swat Valley 140 Subject Matter of the Collection 141 Stylistic and Subjective Analysis of the Collection in the Light 142 of Zonal Workshops Provenance of the Collection 145 Material of the Collection 146 Concluding remarks 147 Bibliographic References 159 Plates 170 iii Preface This research under the title Buddhist collection of Wali-e Swat: its History, classification and Analysis was carried out to study the personal collection of the ex- ruler of the now defunct Swat State lying in the Archaeological Museum, Siadu Sharif, Swat, and in the custody of various people. The related antiquities are catalogued and all possible efforts have been made to trace its history, provenance and chronology. As this material was gathered from different sources and unknown context, the whole collection was analysed and classified in the light of scientifically excavated similar material from various sites by the Italian Archaeological Mission and the Department of Archaeology, University of Peshawar. Stylistic and descriptive analyses were carried out and reconstruction of possible provenance as well as establishment of chronology of the whole collection were worked out. To present the research process in written form, the dissertation is divided into six chapters. Chapter-I contains introduction of the study. Chapter-2 includes geography and history of the Swat Valley to clear the concept of the reader before proceeding to the next chapters. Complete catalogue of the sculpture is prepared in Chapter-3. Chapter-4 deals with the classification of the material on the subject matter and regional styles. In Chapter-5, style and material of the sculptures were studied and statistical and descriptive analyses were made. In Chapter-6, results of the research were presented and the whole work was summed up and concluded. This dissertation is supported by two Maps, two Tables, a long list of Bibliographic References and 266 photographic plates of the relief panels. iv Acknowledgments Thanks to Almighty Allah who, in spite of various hurdles and unfavourable circumstances, enabled me to accomplish this research work. First of all I would like to mention here my brother like colleague Mr. Badshah Sardar, Assistant Professor of Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad, who inspired and convinced me to start this study. I am grateful to Dr. Taj Ali, Dr. M. Nasim Khan, Dr. Zakirullah Jan, Mr. Nidaullah Sehrai, Qazi Muhammad Naeem of the Department of Archaeology, University of Peshawar, who were always ready to support me in my research work. Without their help it was difficult for me to get hold of some of the references and other material. I am also thankful to Mr. Muhammad Naeem, Draughtsman of the same Department whose timely processing my case with university and clearance of many technical hindrances enabled me to reach this stage. My thanks also go to Dr. Ibrahim Shah Associate Professor, Department of Archaeology, and Mr. Sahakirullah, Assistant Provost, both of the University of Hazara who helped me in many ways. I am grateful to Mr. Fidullah Sehrai and Qazi Inayat-ur-Rehman their valuable suggestions. My hearties gratitude also goes to Mr Abdul Nasir, then the Assistant Curator, Archaeological Museum, Saidu Sharif, Swat, who extended his co-operation in photographing the Wali-e Swat collection in the reserves of the Swat Museum and, also, accompanied while collecting data from different people in this regard. I am also thankful to Mr. Afreen Mian, Mr. Hazrat Hussain, Mr. Humayun, Mr. Bakht Zada, the Museum Attendants, who help in arranging interviews with the locals for this study. I am also thankful to all family members of Wali-e Swat who extended their co-operation and gave me access to their family possessions for documentation and sharing their knowledge. This is pertinent to mention here the name of Dr. Sultan-i-Rome, Assistant Professor, Government Jehanzeb College, Mingora Swat, who provided me many articles and references for this study and his encouragement sometimes politely and sometimes in commanding way pushed me to complete my task. I am greatly thankful to Dr. Fazal Dad Kakar, Director General, Department of Archaeology, Government of Pakistan, for his permission to study the collection. I am also thankful to Mr. Bahadar Khan, Deputy Director, Taxila Sub-regional Office, v Taxila, who always encouraged me in my scholarly activities. I want to mention the kindness of Habibullah Khan Khattak the than Assistant Director, Department of Archaeology who always extended his help when I became helpless. The great co- operation and help extended Mr Mahmood-ul Hassan and Mr. Abdul Ghafoor Assistant Directors, Department of Archaeology & Museum deserves my special thanks for the great co-operation and help. I want to mention here the kindness and encouragement of Italian Archaeological Mission to Swat by mentioning late Dr D Faccean, Dr P Callierie, Dr A Filigenzi, and Dr L Oliverie, who provided me some references from abroad and always quickly responded to me when I faced problem in my studies. During my studies officers and officials of the Department of Archaeology and Museum helped me in this way or that way but the officers/ officials of the National Archives of Pakistan my present department also did not remain back in extending their help. Among them first of all I would like to thank Mrs Shama Khalid, Director General/Joint Secretary, Cabinet Division, Islamabad, who spared me from the official duties by granting leave for the study in spite of great pressure of official work load. Mr Riaz-ul-Hassan, Director, National Archives of Pakistan, deserves my hearties gratitude for his kind co-operation in processing my leave case and repeated quarries about my studies. I am also thankful to Mr Mazhar Saeed, Archivist, National Archives of Pakistan, who tried to curtail my official work load but also accompanied me when I got out from the office in course of my studies. My thanks also go to Mr Mohsin Khan, Microfilming Officer, Mr Adil and Mr Khalid, who provided me their assistance when I faced technical problems from my computer. I am grateful to Mr. Ghulam Mohammad Nadeem, Junior Technical Assistant, Mr. Iftikhar Ahmad, LDC, who typed some portion of the thesis and prepared the lists and charts included in dissertation. I am also thankful to Mr Sufaid Gul, peon, posted in my office who not only served me with tea and refreshments but also bear my harsh attitude during my studies. I am also thankful to Mr Raja Teri Dev Rai, Honourable Minister for Minorities, who spared time and clear so many questions rising in my mind about Buddhism and allowed me to consult his personal library.