Swat

Project: Archaeological research in Udegram
Site: Udegram, Swat
Scientific director: Giuseppe Tucci
Co-director: Giorgio Gullini

A series of excavation and study campaigns was carried out in Pakistan between 1956 and 1959 by “Centro Ricerche Archeologiche e Scavi in Asia dell’Is.M.E.O. e di Torino”: Giuseppe Tucci was the coordinator and director of the missions, while Giorgio Gullini was the co-director.
The Italian archaeological mission had been involved in Pakistan since 1956, following the decision made the previous year by Prof. Tucci in favour of the Swat region, which takes its name from the river that runs through it and which flows a few kilometres from the northern border with Afghanistan. The area selected for the study and research activities was one of primary importance in the history of Buddhism and for the numerous and fundamental artistic and architectural remains (stupas, monasteries, cities) which can still be found there today.

Two principal geographical contexts were selected: the lower city with the Udegram fortress, whose name seems to evoke Arrian’s Ora, conquered by Alexander during his Indian campaign, and the Jambil Valley near Mingora with the Butkara I and Panr sites (monumental stupas and sacred areas), Butkara II, Katelai, Loebanr (necropolis) and Saidu Sharif (sacred areas). The Udegram excavations were conducted between 1956 and 1959, in three separate sectors: the first is represented by the Gogdara hill, perhaps the most ancient settlement site; the second is the so-called Udegram Bazaar (residential area) and the third is the “Castle”.