5th Century hand-made painting discovered near Taxila

For the first time in the archaeological history of Pakistan, a hand-made painting on stucco plaster, dated back to 3rd century AD to 5th century AD, was recovered from the ruins of a monastery and stupa locally called Jinna Wali Dehri in Taxila valley civilisation.
This was unveiled by the Federal Minister for minorities, culture, tourism sports and youth affairs, Riaees Muneer Ahmed, while talking to newsmen in Taxila Museum on Sunday.
He said that the mural paintings found lying on the floor of the main gate of monastery.
Riaees Muneer said that paintings were made on the fine plaster of the walls. Different colours were employed in these paintings and consist of the images of Lord Buddha, Bodhisattvas, Monks and worshippers, he added.
Landscapes and geometrical decoration is also found on the fragments of these paintings.
Careful study of the evidences we reached to conclusion that these paintings were destroyed during the ruthless invasion of the White Huns in the 5th century AD, he said and added that it was a unique and important discovery, because such paintings had yet not been discovered in the whole Gandhara region and Taxila Valley.
Riaees Muneer said such paintings were found on the walls of the Buddhist sanctuaries of Afghanistan, Asia Minor and China, but after discovery it was proved that this art reached in these countries via Silk Route from Gandhara in the 3rd-4th century AD.
A well-preserved water tank lined with large sized burnt bricks had been recovered in the middle of the monastery.
A good number of minor antiquities like coins, bangles, beads, earthenware storage jars, bowls, small pots metal objects and some stucco heads of Buddha were also recovered during the excavations, he said.
Muneer said that all the ancient sites including archaeological, historic, monuments would be gradually given to their respective provinces and in this connection a summary had been put up to the office of the Prime Minister for necessary approval however, these sites would remain property of the federal government.