wima takto

8/12/2019 Wima Takto

1/20

Gandhran Studies 4 11

Wima Takto One or Two ?

Archaeological and Numismatic evidence from Gandhra

M. Nasim Khan

The Kushan history of Gandhrais mainly

based on numismatic and epigraphic

evidence as well as literary sources.

Despite the large number of researches on

Kushan history based on these proofs, we

do not find any agreement on certain

aspects of the Kushan history, particularly

the chronological order of the rulers and

other related issues; this may be due to

lack of concrete evidence. The recent

researches on Kushan chronology which ismainly founded on numismatic study and

epigraphic evidence has given answers to

some of the important questions,

particularly regarding the nameless king

Soter Megas,who is now identified with

Wima Takto, and is known as the second

great Kushan ruler in Gandhra. The

general chronological sequence for the

early Kushan rulers is established as

follows.

Kujula Kadphises

Wima Takto

Wima Kadphises

Kanishka I

Huvishka

Vasudeva I

Although the above order of succession of

the early Kushan rulers is widely

accepted, the result of recent

archaeological excavations at Aziz Dheri

may differ with it and particularly with

that of Wima Takto, or the result of the

excavations may add more to the

chronological order of the early Kushan

rulers. Before going into the results of the

excavations conducted in 2007/2008, an

attempt has been made to survey the

different findings of Wima Takto coins

that came from several different

archaeological sites, so far, excavated in

Pakistan, particularly in the region ofGandhra.

Research activities in the region of

Gandhra and its surroundings has

continued for many decades and have, so

far, resulted the discoveries of thousands

of antiquities where among others the

most important are the numismatic

evidence. During these archaeological

activities, coins belonging to the early

Kushan period have been recorded in large

number but unfortunately that most of

them do not show their exactarchaeological context. For example, more

than one-hundred and thirty Wima Takto

coins are stored in the Peshawar Museum

(Ali, I. et al 2004: 27-76) but they neither

show their archaeological context nor their

exact provenance1.

Compared to other Kushan rulers, a

limited number of coins of Wima Takto

were recorded during excavations.

Although found during excavations, mostof these coins still do not show their exact

stratigraphic context. They either came

from debris or were found in pits or even

in groups. The total number of such coins

recorded during excavation, so far, is

about two hundred and two and majority

of them were found in different sites at

Taxila. The rest of these were recovered

from other sites such as Tulamba,

Manikiyala, Butkara I and III, Saidu

Sharif, Shnaisha, Andandheri, Sri Bahlol,Mir Ziyarat, Ghaz Dheri, Pakhana,

Shaikhan Dheri, Ranigat, Kashmir Smast

and Aziz Dheri (see fig. 1).

1 The Peshawar Museum collection showsmainly two groups of coins based on their

denomination, the 8g series and the 2g coins.

The last group consists of only four coins

(PM_07098, PM_07099, PM_07104 andPM_09936).


2/20


The number of excavated Wima Takto

coins from sites in Gandhra may not be

as significant as other groups of coins of

Kushan dynasty but their contextual study

is as important as the study of other

cultural materials recovered from the

above mentioned sites. Such a study may

help us in understanding the order of

succession of the early Kushan rulers

particularly the place of Wima Takto.

A single specimen of Wima Takto coin

was found at Tulamba, an important

historic period site located in the district

of Multan. About fifty-one layers were

exposed in the nine feet deposit of themound and above the natural soil. The

number of coins found at the site was six

(Mughal 1967: 150-152). Only two of

them were identified; one belongs to

Apollodotus, one to Wima Takto and two

were attributed to Shahbuddin Mohammad

Ghori. The Wima Takto coin was

recovered from layer 45 in the deposit

between Indo-Greek and the Islamic

period.

Similarly, from Sonala Pind at Manikyala,

only one coin of Wima Takto was

recovered from the centre of the stupa.

(Errington 2000: table).

A number of important Wima Takto coins

were recovered at the archaeological sites

of Taxila during the excavations

conducted by Marshall in1913-1936 (fig.

1). Apart from the one-hundred and eight

coins of Wima Takto, thousands of othercoins belonging to different periods were

found where majority of them are

associated with the Kushan period. The

coins of Wima Takto (Marshall, vol. II:

786; see also the table below), on the basis

of their weight standard, can mainly be

classified into two groups. Thirty-six of

them are of about 2g series while seventy-

two are of 8g denomination.

Out of 7665 coins recovered from all the

stratas of Sirkap, twelve coins belong to

Wima Takto (Marshall 1951: 210, 212)

and are of common type, a radiate bust on

the obverse and a horse rider on the

reverse. The exact stratigraphic position

for most of these coins is unclear.

From the Buddhist remains at

Dharmarajika and in the filling on which

stands K3 stupa, three coins of Kanishka

and one of Wima Takto were recovered

from a deposit. Some more wererecovered from the site but unfortunately

no stratigraphic difference was made in

the floors of the court, and the antiques

have been taken together as a whole

collection (e.g. Marshall 1951: 240, 247,

261, 278). This is the case not only for

Dharmarajika but for all the sites

excavated by Sir John Marshal or his

colleagues in Taxila.

Two-hundred-seventy-two coins werefound at Akhuari (site B) wherein ten

belong to Wima Takto (Marshall 1951:

317) while two hundred-thirty-eight are

associated to Vasu Deva and the rest to the

other Kushan rulers such as Wima

Kadphises, Kanishka and Huvishka. In

cell 13 of Site C and at the north side of

the steps, from the square base of the stupa

thirty-eight coins were recovered

including those of Azes I, Azes II, Wima

Kadphises, Kanishka, Huvishka,Gondophares and sixteen of Wima Takto

(Marshall 1951: 318). From D1, at the

stupa court and room 10a of Khader

Mohra, one Wima Takto coin was

recorded (Marshall 1951: 319). These

coins were mostly found in groups and a

conclusive chronology for the site is

difficult to establish.


3/20


Fig. 1a: Map showing finding spots of Wima Takto coins discovered in Taxila

At the monastery of Kalwan and in Court

C, seventeen coins in copper were found.

Among these, one belongs to Wima Takto

and was found at D5 together with the

coin of Kanishka (Marshall 1951: 334). A

hoard of copper coins, containing one

Wima Takto coin, was discovered at Court

F.; Evidently this hoard had been hidden,

during the reign of Vasu Deva, in a hole in

the wall, probably above the doorway, andhad remained there for the best part of

three centuries until the wall itself

collapsed during the wholesale destruction

of the monastery., Marshall stated

(Marshall 1951 336).

A good number of three-hundred-nine

coins were found at Giri monastery which

includes five Wima Takto coins recovered

from C debris and D4, 7 and 10 (Marshall

1951: 347). At Jandial, twenty-four coins

comprising of the Indo-Greek, Indo-

Scythian and Kushan period were

discovered. Among these, fourteen are of

Wima Takto; twelve of them were found

near the steps of the stupa where they had

seemingly been buried after the earlier

stupa had fallen to ruin but before the later

was built. The rest of the objects were

found scattered among the debris

(Marshall 1951: 356, 357). The totalnumber of coins found at Mohra Moradu

is eighty-four. Two of them are of Wima

Takto (Marshall 1951: 363, 364). Ninety-

nine coins were found at Jaulian

Monastery including two Wima Takto

coins. One of Wima Takto coins as well as

three Vasu Deva coins and three Sasanian

coins were recovered from cell 3

(Marshall 1951: 385, 386). The excavation

at Kholay in Taxila also produced two

Wima Takto coins.


4/20


The site of Badalpur which was for the

first time excavated by N. Aiyer in 1916-

17 and then in 2005 and onwards by the

Federal Directorate of Archaeology and

Museums, Govt of Pakistan has also

produced three copper coins of Wima

Takto, two were found during 1916-17

excavations and the other one probably in

2005. According to the excavator, the last

one was in a coins hoard which mostly

consisted of Wima Kadphises, Kanishka,

Huvishka and Vasudeva I coins (Khan, A.

et al2010). From the same trench and the

same layer (X/12, layer 3), a copper coin

of Samanta Deva, a Hindu Shahi ruler,

was also recovered. The catalogue of thecoins shows that majority of these,

whether they are early Kushan, late

Kushan or belong to the Hindu Shahi

period were found in Trench X/12, layer

3. If the finding spot for all these coins is

the same, then it would be difficult to

believe late or early Kushan date of the

monastery (Aiyar 1917: 2-3; Marshall 1960:181) because of the presence of the Hindu-

Shahi period coin found together within the

hoard or recovered from the same level. The

only possibility to give reason for the

presence of Samanta Deva coin found

together with the Kushan coins would be to

suppose that either the hoard was deposited

during the Hindu Shahi period or the site

was extremely disturbed or the Kushan

period coins were reused during the Hindu

Shahi period which seems difficult tobelieve.

Fig.1b: Map showing location of Wima Takto coins discovered in Swat and Peshawar valley


5/20


From the different Buddhist sites in Swat

(fig.1b), about twenty copper coins of

Wima Takto were recovered; fourteen

from Butkara I, one from Butkara III, four

from Saidu Sharif and one from Shnaisha

stupa site. The Butkara I coins were found

in the different areas of the mound but

mostly in the same level where other

Kushan period coins were observed (see

table 3). During excavation at Butkara III,

altogether two coins were recorded; one of

these belongs to Wima Takto and the other

to Vasu Deva (Rahman 1991: 154-155).

Both of these were not recovered from the

same level and context. The coin of WimaTakto was found in the courtyard of the

site and was recovered from underneath a

damaged stucco sculpture seated crossed

legs on a podium (figs. 2 and 3) while the

Vasu Deva coin was found on the floor.

According to the excavator, four structural

phases were observed. The early phase is

dated to the Pre-Soter Megas while the last

one is associated with the coin of

Vasudeva (Rahman 1991: 154). The stupa

site at Saidu Sharif has also produced a

number of coins of the early Kushan

period including four copper coins of

Wima Takto; two of them are drachm

series and the other two didrachm. The

other coins include those of Huvishka,

Vasudeva and later Kushan (Callieri, P.

231-233). During Shnaisha excavation, a

single coin of Wima Takto was found on a

paved floor associated with a votive stupa

no. 2. It weighs 8.1g and measures 20mm

(Rahman 1993: 16. 19, 39). As it comesfrom debris (see below) of the later period,

it cannot help us to date this stupa in the

early phase of the early Kushan rulers.

The other coins from the site belong to the

late Kushan or Hindu Shahi period.

Fig. 2: Vima Takto coin from Butkara III

Fig. 3: Butkara III. Finding spot of the Wima Takto coin

During Andandheri excavation, two odd

coins, one probably of Wima Kadphises

and the other of Wima Takto (Dani 1968,vol. IV: Plate No. 6:1.) and four hoards

were found. Most of these coins belong to

the late Kushan period. The only Wima

Takto coin recorded at the site was foundin the lowest stratum of the site and in a


6/20


trench CO (Dani 1968: 41). The three

periods, I-III, are dated on the basis of

numismatic evidence; period I is

associated with the early Kushan, period II

dated to the 3rdcentury AD and period III

to the time of the Shaka (Dani 1968: 37).

At Ranigat, only one coin was found and

according to the excavator, This coin was

found in the Deep South Trench in the

main stupa area ( S5E2), almost the same

layer in which we found the No-1 coin

(Odani 1988: 119). It is the bust and horse

rider coin and weighing 8.4g. From strata

II of the West Trench Azes copper coins

were recovered (Nishikawa et al 1988).

Similarly, the Hindu shrine at KashmirSmast has, so far, produced five copper

coins of Wima Takto (Nasim Khan et al.

2008: 51). One of these is weighing 3.77g

and measures 18.3mm. The average

weight for the rest of the four coins is

1.45g. In one example, the obverse shows

diademed bust to the right while the

reverse is marked with a horse standing to

the left with raised foreleg. In another

example, the coin depicts a bust, havingsun rays, facing right. The reverse shows

horse rider to the right. The rest of the

coins depict a standing figure on the

obverse while the city goddess on the

reverse. We do not know about their exact

finding spots.

A single specimen of Wima Takto was

found at Sri Bahlol Mound B; this coin

equally does not show its exact

stratigraphic level.

Only one coin of Wima Takto was found

at Mir Ziyarat (Marshal and Vogel ) and

one at Ghaz Dheri, Charsadda, (Errington

1999/2000: 213) but their stratigraphic

levels are unclear. One more coin of the

same ruler was found on surface at the

Pakhana Dheri site, Charsadda

(Muhammadzai 2010: 63, No. 18, pl. 9,

fig. 18).

The most important evidence of Wima

Takto coins is found during excavation at

Shaikhan Dheri (fig. 8, table 3) which has

produced a total number of four-hundred

and five coins including thirty-five coins

of Wima Takto; for eight of Wima Takto

coins the exact stratigraphic context is

unknown (see table 3). Interestingly,

among the rest of the twenty seven coins,

only five coins are of 2g series. Among

coins from Shaikhan Dheri, thirteen coins

are associated to the early Kushana period

and twenty-five to the middle Kushana.

According to Dani, On the topmost layers

a number of coins of Vasudeva I (copper

coin of Siva and bull type) were

recovered. These were the last issues on

Shaikhan Dheri. (Dani 1966: 23). Heclassified the construction of the city into

three different phases: Phase A-C. Phase

A is further subdivided into three periods,

I-III. Period III is associated to the early

Kushan period that includes the time of

Soter Megas, Wima Kadphises, and

Kujula Kadhpises while period II is

associated to Kanishka and Huvishka and

period I to the time of Vasudeva. But

looking at Danis chart 2, it may give us

another picture.

Most of the coins recorded at Taxila or in

most of the other sites mentioned above

are either found in groups, recovered from

debris or found on surface or came

through illegal diggings. To give an

example of Sirkap, from where thousands

of antiquities were recovered, Marshall

says, The inferences to be drawn from

stratification are far from being as clear-

cut and definite as could be wished, andthe evidence available must be handled

with the great caution. This is all

necessary because of the widespread

disturbance of the ground, affecting all the

lower strata, which followed the

rebuilding of the city after the great

earthquake...In old times the practice of

burying valuables deep beneath the ground

floor or basement rooms was common,

with the result that such valuables are

sometimes found in the stratum belowthe one to which they properly belong.


7/20


8/20


stucco sculptures in this early period of

Gandhra(see below)3.

The two relic-caskets4 found during

excavation at Pataka were carefully

examined by the author and it was found

that the large one is inscribed with an

inscription on the inner surface of the

receptacle5. It seems to be written in

cursive Kharoshthi letters but its reading is

3A detailed report is going to be published in the

coming issue of the Gandharan Studies.4 Contradictions have been observed in the

statements about the finding spots of the two

relic caskets found in the same stupa at Pataka.Three different accounts are available. Swati

found them in two different chambers of the

stupa and arranged one above the other. S.N.

Khan (verbal communication), one of the

excavator of the site, said that the small relic

casket was placed above the large one to cover

the opening in the lid of the large relic casket.

While the layout and sectional drawings

prepared on the spot by Mr. Daud Kamal, the

then draftsman of the Department of

archaeology, show that they were found side by

side. As far as the photographic record of the

chambers and the large relict casket found in situ

is concerned, it shows that the large one was

found above the small and may have been buried

in two different chambers. One of the

photographs of the large relic casket found in

situ shows that a harmika and chatra/s were

found also fixed into the opening of the lid of the

relic casket (fig. 5) which contradicts to S. Khan

statement. As shown by the relevant

photographs, the material used for the yashti and

catra/s was probably white marble or other

materials in white colour.5 The inner surface of the receptacle is dividedinto four sectors by a horizontal and a vertical

line crossing each other at right angles. These

lines may show the four cardinal points of the

universe. Interestingly, two long and almost

round slabs were recovered from the centre and

the base of the main stupa at Aziz Dheri

arranged in the same manner as the engraved

lines of the relic casket. We do not know about

the exact direction of the slabs but we were told

by the excavator of the stupa that they were

arranged in north-south and east-west directions.

One of the slabs is still lying buried in the stupawhile the other one is removed but is still lying

at the site.

extremely difficult due to its faint nature.

The presence of the Kharosthi inscription

in a cursive form may indicate late date of

the relic-casket.

Fig. 4. Relic-casket containing among other

antiquities, a square coin of Apollodotus II

Fig. 5. Pataka. Finding spot of the reliquary

Fig. 6. Pataka. Plinth of the stupa with stucco

sculptures


9/20


Fig. 7. Relief panel from Pataka

As far as Aziz Dheri is concerned,according to the excavator of 1993 season

excavation, late Kushan period coins have

been recovered from behind the stair risers

of the main stupa (Errington 2000: 197)

and the basis of these coins the stupa is

believed to be dated to the late Kushan

period which is not really the case as

shown by the recent archaeological

investigation at Aziz Dheri (Nasim Khan

2010;). Same is the case for other sites in

Gandhra.

The above examples show that the finding

of a coin in a site does not always prove

that the remains from where the coin was

recovered would be regarded as

contemporary to the object. The object

could have been dropped, donated or re-

used in a later period for many reasons

until and unless they were found in a

proper stratigraphic context conforming to

answer also other related questions.

Moreover, the architecture and the study

of art may also not be generously used and

be considered as a sure criteria of dating

as it is already observed, Our conclusion

therefore must be that the first Buddha

images could have been made during the

rule of Wima Kadphises (Lohuizen 1946:

99). According to Dani, This conclusion

has to be modified in the light of the

present evidence, if the excavations, so far

carried out at Shaikhan Dheri, can be

generalized. As the house of Naradakha

was existing during the time of Wima

Kadphises, we were very particular to note

any sculptural finding in this level but to

our surprise we got none. The earliest

sculptures in our dig belong to the time of

Kanishka.(Dani 1966: 39).

The Wima Takto coins so far found in

Gandhraare catalogued under our Table

3. A detailed analysis of these coins,

whether recovered from a proper

stratigraphic context, or found in groups

or recovered from debris do not help us to

establish an exact chronological profile ofany of the mentioned sites and the

sequence of the coins in order of

succession. The reason may not only be an

improper excavation of certain sites or an

inexact recording of the antiquities but the

main explanation would also be the

general nature of the historic period sites.

The structures and levels of these sites are

mostly re-used for decades and the

antiquities of different periods are

sometime found together and in most ofthe cases it is difficult to understand and

differentiate the different stratas,

particularly those found inside the

structures, mostly those of the late or post-

Kushan period taking for example the site

of Aziz Dheri (Nasim Khan 2010) where

many hotchpotch were found during

excavation. Such facts, therefore, reveal

the problem that antiquities recovered

from a similar deposit are generally hard

to understand and difficult to put in aproper chronological sequence. For such

antiquities or those found in a well

stratified deposits, particularly coins, it is

always the already established

chronological sequence which is

generalised even it sometimes contradict

to the chronology of the site as it is the

case with Aziz Dheri in regards to Wima

Takto (see below).


10/20


Fig. 8. Shaikhan Dheri excavation (1963/1964)

Being one of the most important sites in

Gandhra, the stupa and settlement site ofAziz Dheri was discovered in 1976 (S.N.

Khan 2002:). But the first excavation of

the site has taken place in 1993 which

continued till 2006 but with some

intervals. Hundreds of coins were

recovered from the site. Although these

coins are extremely important for the

numismatic study and for the archaeology

of the site, they have created a great

confusion in understanding the site simply

because their study in a context,particularly those of the Kushan kings,

may do not conform to the numismatic

research. If the already established

sequence of the Kushan rulers is followed

then we will not be able to work-out of the

different occupational levels of the mound

(see Nasim Khan 2010, vol. 1). Believing

on the already established chronology of

the Kushan kings would mean the site of

Aziz Dheri is either extremely disturbed

or the objects are not properly recorded orsome of them have been re-used otherwise

there is something wrong with the

sequential order of Kushan rulers.

To answer these questions and to

understand the true cultural profile of the

site excavation at Aziz Dheri was carried

out in 2007/08. During the whole season

of work, the site was found very well

preserved with an uninterrupted and

complete cultural sequence starting from

at least the Indo-Greek to the Hindu Shahi

period; this is based on the different

antiquities, particularly inscriptions, coins,seal and sealings recorded at the site.

Before the 2007 excavation, at least five

coins of Wima Takto were recorded.

According to G.R. Khan (Khan, G.R.

1999), sixty coins were recovered from

Layer 4 wherein only one was of Wima

Takto. The rest were mostly of the late

Kushan or Kushano Sasanian rulers. From

Layer 6, one out of the seventy-two coins

belongs to Wima Takto while majority ofthe rest of the coins are associated with the


11/20


12/20


the other group of coins. Should we take it

also as a coincidence? The discovery of

Wima Takto coins atthe two different

levels and in two different areas of the

mound may not be taken as a coincidence,

but these discoveries in fact compel us to

think about revisiting the sequence of the

early Kushan rulers using archaeological

evidence side by side with the numismatic

studies to reach a certain conclusion.

The numismatic evidence suggests that

Wima Takto was ruling after the reign of

the Indo-Parthian ruler Sassan and may be

before Pakores who seems to be one of the

last Indo-Parthian rulers. This is based onthe two over-struck coins preserved in the

British Museum. In one of the examples

(fig. 11), Pakores coin is over-struck on

Wima Takto 8g series coin suggesting that

Pakores was either ruling sometime after

Wima Takto in the region or may have

been a contemporary ruler of the said king

(Senior 2001: 127). The other example of

the British Museum shows that the coin of

Wima Takto is over-struck on Sasan

(Sims-Williams and Cribb 1995/6: fig.11.b; Errington and Curtis 2007: 61.7).

Although these two coins do not help us to

give an exact date to Pakores and Sassan

rule, they still show that Pakores was a

director or indirect successor of Sassan.

Another coin over struck on Wima Takto

is the specimen from Vasudeva Oesho and

bull type. The Soter Megas tamga6 is

visible in the right field of the obverse

side. The inscription on the obverse reads:AONANOAO BAZOHO KOANO

(see G.R. Khan, present issue: F5a). The

date for Vasudeva I reign is c. AD 190-

227).

The date of Wima Takto reign is fixed

between 90-113 AD while the Indo-

Pathians were supposedly ruling in

6

We are not sure whether the supposed tamga wasonly used or introduced by Wima Takto or it has

been used before or after by other rulers.

Gandhra during c. AD 32-70 (Errington

2007: 253). The date for Sassan reign is

considered as c. AD 64-70.

Fig. 11. Coin of Pakores (Courtesy BM)

We do not have yet any exact

chronological table for the different rulers

of the Indo-Parthian dynasty. The table

established by Senior (Senior 2001, vol. 1:

table 27) and showing the order of

succession of the Indo-Parthian rulers

suggests that Kujula Kadphises was

contemporary to Abdagases whose date

seems suggested from c. BC 5-AD 20);

the table lists Pakores as one of the last

rulers of the Indo-Parthian kingdom. But

the other recent work gives a late date to

Abdagases and places his rule between c.AD 64-70 (Errington and Curtis 2007:

253). The date for Wima Takto rule is

fixed by Errington between c. AD 90-113

(Errington and Curtis 2007: 253). Due to

lack of concrete evidence, an exact date of

theIndo-Parthian rule would be difficult to

give.

An epigraphic evidence found in Dir,

places the rule of Abdagases in c. AD 40-

60. This important Kharoshthi inscriptionwas found in the area of Dir and was first

published by Akira Sadakata (Sadakata...)

but unfortunately ignored or unsolicited

by scholars for unknown reasons. The Dir

relic casket inscription suggests that being

an immediate successor of Gondophares in

Gandhra (Senior 2001, vol. 1: 124) the

reign of Gondophares may be fixed

somewhere in the first half of the first

century AD rather than in the last half of

the first century BC as suggested bySenior (Senior 2001, vol. 1: 126). If it is


13/20


the case and if we consider an average

reign of 20 years of the different rulers of

the Indo-Parthian dynasty, keeping aside

the question of subordinate sovereigns, the

rule of Sasan can be suggested between c.

AD 60-80. The accumulative total length

of region for the rest of the Indo-Parthian

rulers listed by Senior (Senior 2001, vol.

1: Table 27) may, therefore, not be less

than 80 years which will give an

approximate date to Pakores reign AD

140-160. The coin of Pakores over-struck

on the heavy weight Wima Takto coin

suggests that the region of Wima Takto

can be put, if not contemporary to

Pakores, in the first half of the 2

nd

centuryAD.

To combine both numismatic studies with

archaeological consideration as well as

epigraphic evidence one can suggest that

there were most probably two different

kings issuing the same type of coins with

different weight standard. The one

mentioned in the Rabatak inscription

certainly comes before Wima Kadphises;

Wima Takto as the second great Kushanruler is also confirmed by the

archaeological evidences from Aziz Dheri.

The average coin denomination of the said

ruler is about 2g. While denomination of

the second group of coins, which were

found above the level of Kanishka or

Huvishka and were recovered together

with Vasudeva I coins, is about 8g and

may be associated to another ruler of the

same name.

Although this is a fragmentary approach to

the subject, I hope further scientific and

systematic excavations and fresh research

based on new materials in the region can

help us to say for sure whether there was

one or two Wima Takto7.

7 The site of Aziz Dheri is a very well preserved

site with a very thick deposit and there is greatpotential in the site to answer the said question. The

site needs a large scale excavation.


14/20


Fig. 12: Excavation at Aziz Dheri (2007/2008): Trench DVI-3

Fig. 13: Excavation at Aziz Dheri (2007/2008). Trench BCV-9/3.


15/20


16/20


4 (Nasim Khan et al 2008: 2.7)

Context: DVI-3; Depth 1.3m

Material: Copper

Measurement: Dia. 2cm

Weight: 7.48gr.

Obv: Diademed and radiate (?) bust to r. holding a sceptre. Tamga behind

the head.

Rev: Mounted horseman, holding whip, walking r. Tamga in front.

Fragmentary Greek legend in the margin: [ THP]

5 (Nasim Khan et al 2008: 2.6)

Context: BCV-9/3; Depth 85cm

Material: Copper

Measurement: Dia. 2.1cm

Weight: 7.52gr.As above


17/20


Table 3: List of coins and their provenance

No. Name of site No. of

coins

Locus Weight Ref.

1 Tulamba 1 TLB-I, Layer 45 Mughal 1967: 151

2 Manikyala

Sonala Pind

1 In the middle of the stupa Errington 1999/2000: 213

3 Sirkap 12 8 from stratum II, III4 from stratum I

Bust of king and horseman type

Marshall 1951: 782Five Samantadeva coins

from stratum I-III were also

recovered

4 Jandial temple 4 From debris Marshall 1951: 224-225

5 Dharmarajika 22+3 1 from debris of court A1 from court J, room 6

2 coins from pradakshina patha (from debris)

1 coin from apartments (from debris)

1 coin from debris in the tank

1 coin from court A of the monastery1 coin from Room 6 of Court J.

The rest are mainly from debris

Marshall 1951: 239, 240,247, 261, 278, 279, 289,

292

6 Site B

Akhauri

10 3 from floor of cell F13

3 from F152 from F19

2 found in different part of the ruins

Marshall 1951: 317

7 Site C 16 All from cell 13 Marshall 1951: 318

8 Site D

Khader Mohra

1 From D1, court A, cell 8 Marshall 1951: 319

9 Kalawan 5 1 from court C, D5 together with Kanishka

1 from court F, cell 8 (a hoard including 117

Vasudeva coins)2 from court F (hoard including 1 Kanishka and 2

Vasudeva)

1 from court F, court 5 (including 1 Kanishka and

2 Vasudeva, 1 later Kushan)

Marshall 1951: 334,336

10 Giri 5 From C debris and D4, 7 and 10 Marshall 1951: 347

11 Jandial B 19 or

14

12 found together near the foot of the stupa steps. Marshall 1951: 356 (7), 786

12 Mohra Moradu 2 Found singly Marshall 1951: 364

13 Jaulian 2 1 from cell 3 (found together with 2 Vasudeva

and 3 Sasanians)

Marshal 1951: 385, 386

14 Kholay? 2 Marshall 1951: 786, note 2

15 Badalpur 3 2 from 1917 excavation1 from Trench X/12, Layer 3 (depth. 2.24).

Weight 7.3g). (Trench X/12, layer 3 SamanataDeva)

1. Aiyar 1917: 2-32. Khan, A. et al

2009

16 But Kara I 141. CRM, layer 1 (L.1, Vasudeva I)2. CRM, layer 13. CSK, layer 14. CRC, layer 3 (L.4, Azes II)5. CMP, layer 46. CSG, layer 5 (L.2, Apollodotus I)7. CRN, on F2a8. CML, Tr. XXI, layer 69. GSt.4, Pr., Tr. VI, in the filling10. FA, CMU, layer 1 (L. 1, Vasudeva 1, L.1, 2,

Huvishka)

11. FA, CQD, layer 2 (L. 2, Vima Kadphises)12. FA, CQE, layer 4 (L. 1,2, Kanishka I; L.1,

Kujula; L.3, Eukratides I)

13. FA,CRF, layer 4, in a pot14. FA, CRF, layer 4, close to the pot

N.A Faccena 1980: Part 1, 198-199

17 Butkara III 1 Underneath a seated stucco figure 8.26g Rahman 1991: 154-155

18 Saidu Sharif I 4

1. G3, 3A2. SR11, 3B3. SR 11, 3C4. SR 11, 3C

1. 1.85g

2. 2g

3. 7.9g4. 7.8g

Callieri, P. 231-233

S 2201

S 2202

S 2248S 2249

19 Shnaisha 1 Floor of votive stupa 2 ? Rahman 1993: 16


18/20


20 Andan Dheri 1 Trench CO, lower stratum di-drachm Dani 1968: 41,42

21 Sri Bahlol 1 Mound B Errington 1999/2000: 213

Mir Ziyarat 1 From the will WXY Marshal & Vogel1902-3:

159

22 Ghaz Dheri 1 Errington 1999/2000: 213

This may be from Mir

Ziyarat

23 Balahisar 1 Trail pit Marshal, Vogel: 1902-

03:152

24 Pakhana Dheri 1 From surface di-drachm Qasim Jan 2010:

25 Ranigat 2 1. S5E2 (8.4)2. S1W1 (10.5) Nishikawa, K. 1994: Pl.209: Nos. 6,7

26 Aziz Dheri 10 1.Layer 8, depth 7m, BII (see Table 1.1)2.Layer 6, depth 6.6m, BI (see Table 1.2)

3.Layer 8, depth 8.1m, BII (see Table 1.3)

4.Layer 4, depth 6.3m, BI (see Table 1.4)

5. Trench E5, depth 1.1m

6. Depth 1.3m, DVI-3 (see Table 2.4)

7. Depth 1.85m, DVI-3 (see Table 2.1)

8. Depth 1.57m, DVI-3 (see Table 2.2)9. Depth 85cm, BCV-9/3 (see Table 2.5)

10. Depth 2.35m, BCV, 9/3 (see Table 2.3)

6.85g6.7g

1.55g

1.53g

?

7.48g

1.42g

1.4g

7.52g1.63g

Khan, G.R. 1999: 28, 29,108, 109

2004 unpublished report

(Reg. No. 414)

Nasim Khan 2008: 91;

2010, vol. 2:

2.7

2.92.10

2.62.8

27 ShaikhanDheri

1963

38 1. B5, layer 22. A0, layer 23. A5/B5, layer 24. A1, layer 35. A3, layer 26. A3, layer 37. A4, layer 38. B3/B4, layer 39. C3, layer 310. I10, layer 311. K8, layer 312.

A1, layer 413. A1, layer 4

14. A2, layer 4, pit15. A4/A5, layer 416. C1/B1, layer 417. C1/D1, layer 418. D1, layer 4a19. D1, layer 520. B0, layer 521. C0, layer 522. C0, layer 523. D0, layer 5a24. D1, layer 5b25. C1, layer 526. C1/D1, layer 5b27. A1/A2, layer 628. Not known29. Not known30. Not known31. Not known32. Not known33. Not known34. Not known35. Not known

1. 1g2. 10.7g3. 6.58g4. 1.06g5. 1.34g6. 5.84g7. 1.3g8. 1.36g9. 3.85g10. 1.38g11. 1.38g12.

1.32g13. 0.98g

14. 2.58g15. 1.56g16. 0.64g17. 0.7g18. 0.8g19. 1.82g20. 0.9g21. 1.3g22. 0.8g23. 1.56g24. 3.72g25. 0.8626. 1.1g27. 6.4g28. 7.56g29. 5.94g30. 6.5g31. 4.64g32. 6.24g33. 5.44g34. 6.14g35. 1.44g

1. SSAQ: 1963-2-022. SSAQ: 1963-2-1453. SSAQ: 1963-2-2814. SSAQ: 1963-2-375. SSAQ: 1963-2-1836. SSAQ: 1963-2-1177. SSAQ: 1963-2-1618. SSAQ: 1963-2-1669. SSAQ: 1963-2-16310. SSAQ: 1963-2-1311. SSAQ: 1963-2-23112.

SSAQ: 1963-2-0213. SSAQ: 1963-2-60

14. SSAQ: 1963-2-9615. SSAQ: 1963-2-8416. SSAQ: 1963-2-18817. SSAQ: 1963-2-14418. SSAQ: 1963-2-11619. SSAQ: 1963-2-15520. SSAQ: 1963-2-7121. SSAQ: 1963-2-8622. SSAQ: 1963-2-14723. SSAQ: 1963-2-11424. SSAQ: 1963-2-11025. SSAQ: 1963-2-18026. SSAQ: 1963-2-0627. SSAQ: 1963-2-15728. SSAQ: 1963-2-28629. SSAQ: 1963-2-28730. SSAQ: 1963-2-28831. SSAQ: 1963-2-28932. SSAQ: 1963-2-29033. SSAQ: 1963-2-29134. SSAQ: 1963-2-29235. SSAQ: 1963-2-293

See also Dani 1964:

31, chart 2


19/20


20/20


monastic establishment at Kashmir

Smast (A prelimnary report).

Ancient Pakistan, vol. XIV (2001):

218-309.

Nasim Khan, M. 2006. Treasures from

Kashmir Smast. The earliest Saiva

monastic establishment. Peshawar

Nasim Khan, M. 2008. Excavations at

Aziz Dheri A stupa settlement site

in ancient Gandhra. Glimpses from

field campaigns 1993 and 2007/08.

Gandhran Studies, vol. 2: 71-120.

Nasim Khan, M. 2010. The sacred and the

secular. Investigating the unique

stupa and settlement site of Aziz

Dheri, Peshawar Valley, NWFP,Pakistan. Peshawar

Nasim Khan, M., Errington, E. and Cribb,

J. 2008. Coins from Kashmir Smast

New numismatic evidence. Peshawar

Nishikawa, K. 1994. Ranigat. A Buddhist

site in Gandhra, Pakistan. Surveyed

1983-1992, 2 vols. Kyoto University

Press.

Nishikawa, K., Odani, N. and Namba, Y.

1984. Gandhra. Preliminary Report

on the Comprehensive Survey ofBuddhist Sites in Gandhra, 1983,

1984. Kyoto.

Nishikawa et al. 1988. Gandhra 2:

Preliminary Report on the

Comprehensive Survey of Gandhra

Buddhist Sites, 1986. Kyoto

Rahman, A. 1991. Butkara III: A

Preliminary Report. Ancient

Pakistan, vol. VII: 152-163.

Rahman, A. 1993. Shnaisha Gumbat: First

Preliminary Report. Ancient

Pakistan, vol. 8: 1-124.

Salomon, R. 1999. Ancient Buddhist

Scrolls from Gandhra. The British

Library Kharoshthi Fragments.

London

Senior, R.C. 2001. Indo-Scythian Coins

and History. 3 vols. London.

Sims-Williams, N. 2004. The Bactrian

Inscription of Rabatak A New

Reading. Bulletin of the Asian

Institute, New Series/Vol. 18: 53-68.Sims-Williams, N and Cribb, J. 1995/96.

A New Bactrian Inscription of

Kanishka the Great. Silk Road Art

and Archaeology, vol. 4: 75-142.

Swati, M. F. 1997. Pre-Kushana

Reliquaries from Pataka, Swat.

JRAS, Series 3,7,2 (1997): 249-255.

Wilson, H.H. 1997 (originally published in

1841). Ariana Antiqua. A

Descriptive Account of the

Antiquities and Coins of Afghanistanwith a Memoir on the Buildings

called Topes by C. Masson. New

Delhi

Zwalf, W. 1996. A Catalogue of the

Gandhra Sculpture in the British

Museum. 2 vols. British Museum

Press.

wima takto

Documents