Pakistan Heritage

This paper aims to focuses on stucco sculptures from stratified excavation in Gandhar the (ancient name for the present-day Peshawar Valley), situated at the gateway to the Indian Subcontinent. Due to its strategic location along the ancient Silk Road, which connected Gandhara with China, Central Asia, and the Mediterranean, the region became a hub of cultural and economic wealth. During the 1st century CE, the development of a distinctive art style for promoting Buddhism emerged, later recognized as Gandhara art. This art form was primarily expressed in three mediums: stone, stucco, and terracotta (Dani, 2008: 127), with occasional use of metals and paintings. Among these, stucco was one of the dominant mediums, second only to stone sculptures (Dar, 2010: 113-114). Stucco sculptures have been discovered at nearly all major Gandharan sites. However, before the subcontinent independence, systematic and stratified excavations were rare, and the focus was mainly on collecting antiquities, often without recording their precise context. In more recent times, significant advancements have been made in scientific excavation practices. Institutions such as the Archaeology Department at the University of Peshawar and the Department of Archaeology Govt. of Pakistan in collaboration with the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa along with contributions from foreign universities and researchers, have played a pivotal role. These efforts have led to the discovery of numerous stucco sculptures, excavated with proper stratigraphic context. As a result, these findings have provided more accurate dating, helping to trace the origins of Gandharan stucco art, particularly those associated with Buddhist traditions..

Nangarhar, considered one of the richest provinces of Afghanistan, houses the most ancient and historical sites, holding a special significance in terms of history culture, and art. In ancient times, city was one of the most important centers for worship, trade, politics, and culture in Gandhara. With its historical features, climate (suitable environment and natural landscapes), Nangarhar attracted merchants, travelers, artists, and pilgrims from India, China, Central Asia, East Asia, and Europe, as in ancient times, Nangarhar became one of the largest centers for Buddhism in Central Asia. The province's location on the Silk Road has connected the East and West. The Surkh Rod district, which contains a significant portion of the cultural heritage of past peoples, is one of the most important archaeological sites of Ghundi Sabzabad, having played an important role throughout history. Numerous archaeological signs and evidence have been discovered based on recent archaeological research, demonstrating the antiquity and flourishing of a part of the great civilization in Nangarhar.

This paper examines the cup-marked stones of the Hazara region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province in Pakistan. Based on a comprehensive survey of published archaeological reports of multiple sites known so far in the region, this research seeks to contextualise the spatial distribution, typology, and possible functions of these enigmatic rock carvings. By integrating field data with spatial visualisations, comparative ethnographic tendencies and a review of archaeological literature, as a developed methodology (e.g. Frodsham, 2022; Waddington, 2022; Luke & Roosevelt, 2017; Kalhoro, 2013; Khan & Khan 2017), this paper contextualises the Hazara region’s cup-marks within broader rock art traditions. The study argues that cup marks were not arbitrary carvings but functioned within complex cultural, ritualistic, and economic frameworks and hence it explores the potential for further archaeological investigations.

The organic residues extracted from ancient pottery can offer valuable insights into the diets of the past, shedding light on historical, cultural, economic, and agricultural practices. In this study, we considered the Taxila (Punjab, Pakistan) and specifically examined the Badalpur site as a case of study. Our investigation focused on five potential food items (long pepper (P. nigrum), masha (V. mungo), masura (L. culinaris), sesamum (S. indicum), and mustard (B. juncea)), which may have been utilized in recipes by Buddhist monks and could had left a chemical signature still preserved in pottery fragments discovered at this site. Using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis (GC/MS) on these food items, we identified a range of compounds that could indicate the presence of these ingredients. We also conducted experiments in controlled conditions, where the food was cooked in pots. Through this investigation, we observed that certain compounds degraded (i.e., amino acids and low molecular weight carboxylic acids), while others were selectively absorbed on the surface of the pots rather than within the interior, such as fatty acids, phytosterols and hydrocarbons. Additionally, we noticed variations in the chemical composition of organic residues across different parts of the pots, such as the base, body, and rim. Despite the complexity of the absorption process and the occurrence of thermal degradation reactions, we successfully identified a set of compounds that remained relatively unchanged during the cooking process, such as piperine, sesamin, amyrin, caryophyllene oxide and pipecolic acid. These compounds proved useful in determining the use of specific ingredients in archaeological pottery. Finally, we applied this methodology to three archaeological fragments recovered from Badalpur, suggesting the use of long pepper (piperine and caryophyllene oxide), sesamum (sesamin) and likely masha and/or masura evidenced by the presence of pipecolic acid. In this paper, we aim to propose a methodological approach to identify and detect chemical compounds that could be indicators of the use of several ingredients in archaeological pottery fragments.

Peshawar has been a major center for trade and social activities. It has attracted each and every empire towards its beauty and favorable landscape. Those empires have left their marks on the region in different aspects. Most importantly are the building constructed by numerous emperors. These buildings are now part of the heritage of this region. Of these, one of the important is Palosi Piran Mosque. It was constructed during the reign of Emperor Shah Jehan (1628-58 CE), which is marked as the peak point of Mughal empire. This mosque is actually part of the Palosi Tomb Complex which also contain tomb of Shaikh Imam- ud-din and his wife. Since its construction in around 1650 CE, some four hundred years have been past. During this period, the mosque has been subject to various human vandalism and natural disasters. This has caused much damage to its building, painting and graffiti work done on its walls. No conservation/preservation work was done on this important heritage building. The mosque was in dire need of maintenance and conservation/restoration work to be carried out for its survival. The directorate of Archaeology and Museum Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, knowing the significance of the monument, took immediate measures for conservation and restoration to prevent further loss. The project was initiated in October 2021 and completed in February 2022. The key interventions included repair of domes, roof, walls and water outlets. The work was carried out systematically, respecting the traditional methods. Hence the significant historic monuments is prevented from further loss and has been restored to its original shape. The paper is based on the observation of the ongoing work and highlights the overall conservation and preservation measures taken during the project.

This research explores the psychological impact of architecture on personalities through a case study of a short story, "Naked Voices “by Saadat Hassan Manto. The methodology used is architectural literary analysis, strengthened by the philosophical framework of phenomenology. The study investigates how the built environment shapes the emotions of a person, experiences by the characters, and perceptions within the literary narratives. Seeking inspiration from the text, the research explores the lifestyle and living conditions of the characters of this story who are factory workers and deal with poverty. The spatial constraints and overpopulation forced them to adopt a lifestyle that is devoid of privacy. The architectural literary analysis dissects that style and highlights the deep connection of characters to their living spaces that became a focal point, driving the narrative's plot and emotional intensity..

The current study formally analyzes Ali Sajid's cityscapes from the walled city of Peshawar and their compositional elements, content, and style. The study also examines the linear and atmospheric perspective and the line orientation employed by the artist. In addition, the study concentrated on an eclectic mix of architectural styles and the hybrid culture of the region depicted in these paintings. The study submits that his vibrant colors and style have given the old city a new ambiance. In addition to providing a thorough account of how design principles relate and unify the elements into a coherent composition, the study suggests these paintings an essential visual record of the region's cultural legacy..

The subject matter of the investigation delves into the world of advertising tactics built exclusively over ceramic items. It seeks to dive through the complexities of buying behavior in the ceramic industry, offering insight on psychological variables that impact purchase decisions. By analyzing these impacts, manufacturers may create targeted tactics that successfully resonate with customers, resulting in greater revenue and confidence in the brand. For this purpose ceramic pieces were made in different techniques i.e., wheel, coil, slab, pinch and slip casting method. Created ceramic pieces with tagged prices were subjected to visual assessment to specific targeted consumers. Different promotional strategies were discussed in the questionnaire i.e. personal selling in different exhibitions and fairs, print promotions and exhibiting it in art galleries etc. Then a scale was developed with 10 questions. Its validity and reliability was checked for accurate results. Data was analyzed with Independent Sample T-Test. The study's results revealed a notable trend wherein a significant proportion of consumers were influenced by marketing strategies employed during exhibitions and personal selling at craft fairs. These strategies proved effective in generating consumer interest and facilitating the placement of orders for ceramic products. Over all it is concluded that product price along with appropriate advertising strategy can have significant impact on the purchasing behavior of the consumers. The current paper also gave significant results for updating artists and ceramists on the important aspects of advertisement and marketing so that they could use the latest strategies and promote their own ceramic art creations.