Swat, the
ancient Uddiyana, is a beautiful land of glorious past and
has a unique place in the annals of history. One of the most
important and ascertaining chapter in the history of Swat
was the spared of Buddhism to this region in the time of
Asoka Maurya in the 3rd century BC. On account of its
historical, geographical, political, religious and cultural
point of view Swat occupies a unique place in history of
Pakistan . It commanded important strategic positions and
communication through one the main highways that connected
China and Tibet in east with the imperial Rome in west. The
enchanting valley of Swat has been attracting people since
time unknown as the human settlement is attested here dating
back to 3rd millennium B.C. The first archaeological survey
in Swat Valley was carried out in 1926 by the great explorer
Sir Aurel Stein, who followed the route of the Chinese
pilgrims and was able to locate and identify some important
Buddhist shrines. After Stein, Barger and Wright carried out
the survey in 1941. The Italian Archaeological Mission with
the close collaboration of the Department of Archaeology and
Museums, Government of Pakistan has been systematically and
scientifically engaged in excavation and exploration in Swat
area since 1956 and established a non-interrupted
archaeological sequence from the third millennium B.C. to
the Islamic period. The Department of Archaeology and
Museums, Government of Pakistan and the Department of
Archaeology, University of Peshawar have also contributed a
lot in exploration and excavation in Swat Area.
S
wat Museum
Archaeological Museum Swat at Saidu Sharif was founded in
1959 by the Walli (Head of State) of the then state of Swat.
The Museum Building was designed by Italian Architect
Vittonio Cardi, consisting on three galleries. Private
collection of antiquities owned by Major General Main Abdul
Haq Jehanzeb were displayed. The museum was handed over to
Department of Archaeology and Museums, Government of
Pakistan and formerly inaugurated by the Field Marshall
Muhammad Ayub Khan, the then President of Islamic Republic
of Pakistan on 10 November 1963. A considerable quantity of
antiquities was collected from excavations conducted at
different sites located in close vicinity of the Museum. So
to house these antiquities six more galleries were added in
1967. The Museum was renovated and re-organized through
Cultural Grant Aid received from the Government of Japan in
1992 by providing latest display material. The antiquities
were also classified and put on display in sequence. Swat
Museum is one of the most modern and well equipped museums
in Pakistan .
With the collaboration of UNESCO, Archaeological Museum
Swat, Department of Archaeology and Museum Government of
Pakistan documented 3000 stone antiquities discovered from
the Swat Valley and donated by Wali Swat, Archaeological
Mission of Italy, Political Agent Malakand Agency and
repatriated from USA with courtesy of United States of
America .
