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LOCATION: Baghlan
Province. On a hill to the west of the road to Haibak, 18.5
km north of Pul-i Khumr
DATE: Kushan
& Kushano- Sasanian, 2st-4th C. (Ceramic, numismatic,
stylistic).
DESCRIPTION: A
major Kushan dynastic shrine complex on top of a hill overlooking
the Baghlan plain. It is approached by a monumentral brick
and masonry staircase, falnked by four massive terraces, cut
out of the hillside. The temple itself -possibly a fire temple-
is in the centre of a paved courtyard, and consists of a masonry
altar with four Hellenistic column bases at each corner, in
a sanctuary with massive mud walls. The most important finds
have been inscriptions. The most noteable one is the foundation
inscription, a monumental inscription in the Bactian language,
made up of a series of stone blocks that originally lined
the front of the third terrace. The other main inscription
is the Nokonzoko inscription in three versions, that describes
the construction and restoration of the complex, also in the
Bactrian language. Other finds include a life-size headless
statue of Kanishka, serveral more inscriptions, many coins
and various sculptural fragments in stone and stucco."
From Ball, W. Archaeological Gazetteer of Afghanistan, Paris,
1982, p. 261
CONDITION: plundered.
architectural elements looted for private use and natural
deterioration
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