Italian Archaeological Discovery: Monumental Building Unearthed in Pakistan

(ANSA) - ROMA, 13 OTT - An imposing ancient monumental building has been unearthed in Taxila, in Pakistan, as part of the KhyberPath project, funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and carried out by the Italian Archaeological Mission of Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, in collaboration with the archaeological authorities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and with the support of ISCOS. The excavations, which began in mid-August in the Jandial area, have revealed a structure nearly 100 meters long and over 50 meters wide, located near the famous Ionic temple, outside the walls of the ancient city of Sirkap. The building’s function—likely public or religious—remains to be determined. The site, first identified in 1864 by the British archaeologist Alexander Cunningham, had never been thoroughly explored. The discovery is part of the KhyberPath project, which is active at eight archaeological sites between Taxila and the Swat Valley, including Sirsukh and Barikot. The findings confirm the contribution of Italian cooperation to the preservation of Pakistan’s archaeological heritage and highlight the need to protect the historic sites of Taxila—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—which are threatened by increasing urban expansion.
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