NEW TEMPLE DISCOVERED IN THE SALT RANGE

The archaeological excavations undertaken in the northern Kafirkot fortress in northern Pakistan this winter (1997) by Michael W. Meister and his colleagues Professors Abdur Rehman and Farid Khan of the Pakistan Heritage Society have revealed a completely unknown new temple (now designated temple E). This shows clear evidence of two phases of construction - one probably early in the seventh century A.D., the other a reappropriation of this structure by the newly established Hindu Shahi dynasty in the ninth century A.D. (A similar phasing was found last season in the excavation of temple C.) The most remarkable features of this new structure are the bold cusped niches in the first-phase platform that were revealed when part of the fabric of the second-phase construction was taken away. Excavations continue.

Photos courtesy of Professor Farid Khan, Pakistan Heritage Society.


A comparison of scaled plans of Temples C and E can be found here.

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