Hidden Afghanistan: The Recovered Treasure

January 25, 2008

The treasure was sealed in seven trunks and hid in a vault carved out of rock. It was protected by a steel gate bolted shut by seven locks, with keys held by seven people.

The vault could only be opened if all seven keys were used. If any of the key holders died, the key reverted to his eldest son.

It is not a fable. It is the real story of the archaeological treasures kept in Kabul's National Museum. In 1979, when the Soviets Union invaded the country, the museum had  some 100,000 objects on display.

As well as causing two million deaths, the Russian invasion destroyed the country's economy and the cultural infrastructure. Many treasures were plundered.

But the low point for the museum came in 2001, when the Taliban regime, who opposed to  any art displaying human or animal forms,  wiped out not only the colossal figures of the Bamiyan Buddhas, but also 2,500 priceless artifacts at the museum.

Luckly, the Taliban did not get it all.

Already in 1988, when the situation was deteriorating, the heroic museum director Omar Khan Massoudi and his staff moved the best of the  collection -- intricate ornaments,  figurines showing dragon-like creatures and winged goddesses, pendants and necklaces dotted with precious stones -- to a vault in the Central Bank at the presidential palace.  Of course, Massoudi was one of the seven key holders.

It was not until 2003, more than a year after the overthrown of the Taliban, that the Afghan government confirmed the treasure was safe: 22,607 objects had survived the devastating regime. Restoration began, and the idea of a large travelling exhibition was launched.

Now 250 restored  objects  are  on display  in Amsterdam's Nieuwe Kerk Museum. In May, the exhibition will  travel to Washington, DC, to start a 17-month tour of the US.

Coming from four archaeological sites — Tepe Fullol, Ai Khanum, Tillya-tepe, and Begram — the pieces show varying artistic influences. Indeed, ancient Afghanistan, strategically located  on the trade routes between East and West,  was at the crossroads of civilizations in central Asia.

The artifacts also  provide an exhaustive view of  the country's history from ancient times (2nd millennium BC) to the Buddhist dynasty of the Kushanas (1st to 3rd century AD).

The highlight is the gold treasure found  at a site in northern Afghanistan called Tillya Tepe, "The Golden Mound."

Discovered by Russian archaeologist Victor Sarianidi in 1978, it was the funerary outfit of elaborately dressed  women and a warrior buried at Tillya-tepe. It is considered one of the most important  post-war discoveries of the 20th century.

"There is more to Afghanistan than war and destruction," says the exhibition's catalogue.

Published in the Afghan languages of Dari and Pasthu, the catalogue will be distributed to every school in Afghanistan.

Here is a slideshow  of some of the artifacts on display. The Amsterdam  exhibition runs until 20 April 2008. In May it  will go to Washington, DC, to start a 17-month tour of the U.S.

 

Photos: Courtesy of National Museum of Afghanistan © musée Guimet/Thierry Ollivier.

Comments

[Rodman Mapholisto]

Omar Khan Massoudi should be honored as a national hero by his countrymen. What a great story, and thanks for bringing it to our attention!