The empire strikes back

‘The Ghaznavid Mosque and the Islamic Settlement’ does not target a reader just looking for some information

DUBAI: The Italian Archaeology Mission in Pakistan started its fieldwork some 60 years ago and their most recent project, forcefully interrupted in 2007, was in Udegram, Swat Valley.

The purpose of Ghaznavid Mosque and the Islamic Settlement at Mt. Raja Gira, Udegram is primarily to fill the information gap of the two decades since the excavations of the Ghaznavid Mosque of Udegram and its settlements. The second reason for this compilation of information is for the project to showcase its fieldwork and to set up a tourism site in the area. Thirdly, it was “necessary to satisfy the need to provide the site with a scientific report in anticipation of the side being handed over to the archaeological authorities of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa”.

The book is thus a compilation of archaeological data and findings as well as structured hypotheses based on historical events. The excavations by the mission in the northern slopes of Mt Raja Gira have led them to conclude that this area was built up in phases dating from the 1st, 2nd to 4th centuries all the way to the late 13th-14th centuries. In fact, some pottery also indicates occupation as early as the 4th-3rd century BCE. It also leads the archaeologists to discover two pre-Islamic settlements. An early phase of development is represented by a small Buddhist Sacred Area, which they date back to the 1st-4th century, and a later pre-Islamic phase identified by its monumental and dwelling structures dated from the 8th-10th century.



The last phase has been identified as that of an Islamic settlement, which is where the Ghaznavid-founded mosque comes into place. There are also some dwelling areas and a graveyard, which also seems to house a tomb for a pious Muslim from that era.

The book goes into detailed floor plans and blueprints of the excavated areas and also ties it to the historical facts from various sources. The author states that the Islamic settlement “unearthed on the slopes of Mt. Raja Gira and the so-called ‘Castle’, where a phase of Islamic occupation dating from the 11th century has been ascertained by excavation”.

Some interesting points from the book are the fact that the mission discovered that the Ghaznavid Mosque at Mt Raja Gira was definitely a “jama”.  Only Friday mosques are equipped with a minbar, which is used to pronounce the khutba. The Ghaznavid Mosque has a minbar, which indicates that it had significance as a symbol of authority in a religious environment. It also indicates a widespread settlement but that is yet to be excavated.

The gravesites are also to be noted because of the fact that there are many two-person graves, with older skeletons being found with smaller (child) ones; a hearth consisting of multiple unburied skeletons shows daily life being frozen in time.

Many artefacts have also been found buried with the skeletons; this is not a very Islamic tradition but one cannot rule out the traditions of that time. There is also a presence of animal bones in some graves, which again goes against Islamic traditions.

Multiple products and home wares were also discovered in the excavation. These products indicate Islamisation that was co-existing with earlier local traditions. This is another indication of pre-Islamic settlements.

The Ghaznavid Empire was a Persian Dynasty that lasted from the year 977 to 1186. Mahmud of Ghazni was the most prominent leader of this empire and he expanded their rule to the eastern Iranian lands and the northern parts of India.

He was also the first ruler to have the title of Sultan.

The Mosque at Udegram is named after him and is possibly the oldest in the northern part of Pakistan. This book documents the importance of this mosque as the administrative centre of that time. The presence of a castle there further hints at it being an important site for the empire.

This report is exceptionally detailed, with diagrams, excavation pictures and detailed notes. However, it seems to be more suitable for those truly passionate about uncovering the archaeological data as discovered by the Italian Mission. It is not an easy read and to me it didn’t seem to be targeted at someone just looking for some information. So, unless you are willing to delve deep into Ghaznavid history, details about the Udegram site in Swat, it may not be the book for you.

Title: The Ghaznavid Mosque and the Islamic Settlement at Mt. Raja Gira, Udegram

Author: Alessandra Bagnera

Publisher: Sang-e-Meel Publications

ISBN: 9693528808

Price: Rs3,500

The author is a published short story writer and blogger, with a background in advertising. She is a voracious reader and is passionate about travelling. She tweets @sufipanda

 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 12^th, 2016.

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