New Ancient Site ‘Bamyan’ Discovered in Panjshir Province
The Directorate of Information and Culture in Panjshir, under the Taliban administration, has announced the identification of a newly discovered ancient site named ‘Bamyan’ in the Anaba district of the province. According to officials from the directorate, this site is located in the Khughr Dara area.
Maulvi Nasrullah Malekzada, head of Information and Culture in Panjshir, stated that based on initial information from local residents, the historical background of this site dates back approximately two hundred years. He added that preliminary investigations indicate the site belongs to the Islamic period.
Local officials believe the area may have been situated along the historical Silk Road and served as a monitoring post to secure trade caravans. The Silk Road was one of the main trade routes in the past that connected various regions of Asia.
The head of Panjshir’s Information and Culture emphasized the need to send archaeology experts from the Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture to the site for precise verification of its history and function through technical and professional examinations. In recent years, a lack of specialized capacities and concerns over protecting historical heritage have posed serious challenges to the country’s archaeological sector.
He also stated that the Directorate of Information and Culture in Panjshir is committed to preserving historical monuments and ancient sites in the province. He noted that restoration work on the Khalifa Sahib shrine is also scheduled to begin during the current year.
