Taxila Museum being digitised

Documentation highlights gold artefacts, Buddha sculptures

LAHORE:

The final phase of the digital curation of the Taxila Museum has begun.

Punjab Archaeology Director General Zahir Abbas Malik announced that the project was being implemented in collaboration with the Citizens Archive of Pakistan (CAP) and Punjab Tourism for Economic Growth initiative.

The phase focuses on the comprehensive digital documentation of all objects on display at the Taxila Museum, with particular emphasis on gold artefacts and Buddha sculptures.

According to a statement, the digital photography and inventory work are being carried out by the Citizen Archives of Pakistan.

The collection includes precious gold jewellery from the Gandhara civilization, which was originally catalogued by Sir John Marshall, the then DG of archaeology for British India, during the 1920s. The documentation process aims to ensure high-resolution, detailed digital records of the historically significant items.

The exquisite jewellery includes a variety of artefacts such as intricately designed bangles, bracelets, rings, necklaces and finely crafted earrings. The project also encompasses the digital recording of Buddha sculptures, capturing their artistic and historical essence.

The digital curation process is being conducted under the supervision of Deputy Director Anjum Dara and Taxila Museum Curator Humara Naz. The officials are collaborating with a CAP team to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the documentation.

According to the archaeology department, the project aims to enhance public access to the artefacts and support research.