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THE BUDDHIST SITE OF TOKAR-DARA 1 (SWAT, PAKISTAN). BUILDING TECHNIQUES IN THE ANCIENT GANDHARA
Abstract
In recent years the international community has begun to focus on the dangerous state of conservation of Buddhist heritage in the SwДЃt Valley (Pakistan). Not only are these religious complexes abandoned and decaying, they are also subject to attacks and destruction. However local populations and the international community both appear disinterested in this issue. The scope of this research is to contribute to the archaeological history of SwДЃt and the architecture of GandhДЃra. The study, involving a survey and photographic campaign, focused on the Tokar-Dara 1 site in the SwДЃt Valley. It enabled the author to not only identify the different building phases, but also to get a better understand of the masonry, construction techniques, architectural and typological features of the buildings. The latter includes a main stЕ«pa, a vihara, a monastery, an assembly hall, a badly damaged aqueduct and cistern. The architectural remains spread 228 metres to the north and south, and 206 metres to the east and west. The stЕ«pa, with a hemispherical dome and upper and lower drums resting on a square podium, was once surrounded by votive stupas completely destroyed by unauthorized diggers. The rectangular monastery has two entrances: one to the north leading to the main stЕ«pa, and one to the south leading to the assembly hall. Square-shaped domed cells surround the free side of the cloister. The high walls of a hall used as an assembly room by the Buddhist community are located near the corner of the monastery court. To the east, the remains of a vihara are surrounded by walls on three sides. The relic shrine resting on a square plinth with base moulding is accessed by a flight of steps.
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