Identification of management & conservation issues in built heritage (a case study of Zar Dheri Buddhist complex District Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan)
Paper Details
Identification of management & conservation issues in built heritage (a case study of Zar Dheri Buddhist complex District Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan)
Abstract
Zar Dheri Buddhist complex is one of the few sites systematically explored and scientifically excavated by professional archaeologists. The site is located to the right side of Shinkiari-Tambah road, a link road starting from the Karakuram Highway leading to Dadar and beyond. The site was for the first time documented by H. Hargreaves in 1922 (Hargreaves, 1923). It was later on excavated by the Tokyo National Museum Archaeological Mission (hereafter TNMAM) to Pakistan from 1995-99 in collaboration with the Department of Archaeology and Museums (henceforth DOAM), Government of Pakistan. These field investigations at the site revealed some remarkable discoveries including 146 stone sculptures/architectural elements, coins and ceramics. But the most important discovery revealed at the site was the exceptional cruciform stupa with flight of steps provided on each cardinal side (Yoshihide, 2011). This stupa has recently been declared as the earliest of all the cruciform stupas yet discovered from the entire South Asia (Hameed, 2018). But despite of its rich archaeological and historical potential, the site is constantly losing its authenticity due to natural disaster and human vandalism. The present study therefore aims to highlight the management issues and device mechanism to minimize the threats to the site.
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