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Talking
Rocks Along the Karakoram Highway:
Rock inscription paintings’ show unfolds human evolution
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German archeologist Dr Harald Hauptmann highlights different aspects
of rock carvings and inscriptions along the Karakoram
By Mahtab Bashir
ISLAMABAD: Unfolding a magnificent chapter of human evolution
through centuries, an exquisite exhibition of rock inscription
paintings and multimedia presentation titled “Talking Rocks Along
the Karakoram Highway” by German Archeologist Prof Dr Harald
Hauptmann started on Thursday at National Art Gallery (NAG).
Jointly organised by Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA),
Ministry of Culture and Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and
Humanities (HASH), the exhibition focuses on documenting and
publishing the rock carvings and inscriptions found in the high
mountains of Northern regions of Pakistan.
Under a joint German-Pakistan Archeological Project inaugurated in
1980, a mission was established as a research project at the HASH in
1984. The Government of Federal Republic of Germany and the state of
Baden-Wurttemberg funded the project under ‘Academy Programme’.
Some 101 cache of paintings highlighting the high mountains of
Pakistan including Hindukush, the Western Himalayas and Karakoram-
one of the world’s largest rock art spreading along the banks of the
Upper Indus, have been displayed in the exhibition.
Dedicated to the great explorers of the Northern Areas, Dr Ahmed
Hassan Dani (1920-2009) and Dr Carl Jettmar (1918-2002), the
photographs captured unique diversity and abundance cover cliffs,
rock faces and boulders accompanying the Indus River from Indus-Kohistan
to Baltistan and reaching as far as Ladakh and Tibet.
The photography exhibition mainly focused on rock inscriptions and
paintings work also included the giant figures in Khanbary, Ibex
hunted by a leopard- Eurasian animal style in Chilas, Buddha relief
in Kargah, Gilgit, inscription of an envoy written in Chinese at
Hunza, a number of stupas at different sites including Kashmir,
Shigar, Skardu, Baltistan, Basha, Harappa and Mohenjodaro with
decorated wooden carvings in a most remarkable way.
The visitors took keen interest in photography of carved woods and
stones displayed in the exhibition that was followed by a talk by
Hauptmann, a Professor Emeritus of Prehistoric and Near Eastern
Archaeology at the University of Heidelberg and former director of
the German Archaeological Institute at Istanbul.
Hauptmann highlighted different aspects of rock carvings and
inscriptions along the Karakoram, history of the research project,
the archeological heritage, Northern nomads, and Iranian influence
in Indus valley, Battle-Axe Warriors in 9th century and the age of
Buddhism.
Hauptmann said rock art sites did not only follow the routes along
the Indus itself, but also trace important mountain passes and the
valleys of the Indus tributaries including the Gilgit River up to
Yasin and Hunza Valley. “The tremendous diversity of these places
not only permits insight into the history of various people with
different socio-cultural and political traditions and religious
beliefs but also discloses the strategic importance of the region,”
he said.
Anna Lapin, deputy head of archeology department, Embassy of
Germany, said the research project was initiated in 1980 to
strengthen ties between both the nations besides exploring the
magnificent archeological sites of Northern Areas of Pakistan. “The
government of Germany would continue to take up such projects with
Pakistan in future,” she said.
PNCA Director General Naeem Tahir said the exhibition was extremely
important as it had original record of people who passed through
mountains during last 12,000 years.
“It records expressions of different ages with a perception of
natural elements, flora and fauna, animals, birds, beasts and their
experiences with these elements,” said Tahir, adding, figures of
mythology and its subsequent eras which are close to the periods of
history are also captured in these photographs.
Fazal Dad Kakar, Director General, Museum and Archeology Department,
Taha Bugti, and others also spoke on the occasion. The exhibition
would continue at NAG till July 19.
Daily Times:June 05,2009
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