Reply With QuoteAmazing find! Spectacular to think we are still discovering things like this in our day and age. I love stories like this.
Mining firm unearths 2600-year-old Buddhist monastery
Hopefully the Taliban won't destroy these ones as well. Karma really screwed them over the last time they done it.
Read more: SourceCopper load of this! Company digging mine in Afghanistan unearths 2,600-year-old Buddhist monastery
A Chinese company digging an unexploited copper mine in Afghanistan has unearthed ancient statues of Buddha in a sprawling 2,600-year-old Buddhist monastery.
Archaeologists are rushing to salvage what they can from a major 7th century B.C. religious site along the famed Silk Road connecting Asia and the Middle East.
The ruins, including the monastery and domed shrines known as 'stupas,' will likely be largely destroyed once work at the mine begins.
The ruins were discovered as labourers excavated the site on behalf of the Chinese government-backed China Metallurgical Group Corp, which wants to develop the world's second largest copper mine, lying beneath the ruins.
Amazing find! Spectacular to think we are still discovering things like this in our day and age. I love stories like this.
Those statues are very impressive, i hope they will be well guarded from Taliban scum.
Now the question, if they are recovered does China suddenly own them?
Or is there a safe place for them in Afghanistan?
Maybe China will claim Afghanistan on historical ground
Since they dug them up, I'd say they'll probably end up in museums in China, yes. That seems the most logical course of action, anyway. With time, I'm sure a number of these items will find their way to museums in the US and in Europe as well.Originally Posted by Linedoggie
Usually archeological finds are property of country where they were found. Considering that how corrupted Afghan government is... they probably end up in collection of highest bidder.
Good point. I'm not sure what the law in Afghanistan is concerning archaeological discoveries, but 'finders keepers' isn't unusual in parts of the world.
One way or another they'll move them out of there so they can blast away and get the copper.
Since Buddhism originated in India, I think India should claim Afghanistan. And given the number of Buddhist relics in China, historically China should belong to India too.
Why will China do that?
Actually you are rightSince Buddhism originated in India, I think India should claim Afghanistan. And given the number of Buddhist relics in China, historically China should belong to India too.
The thing is that as unlikely as it seems the same region in those times had great centers of learning where the Indo-Bacterian culture flourished. This culture infused Greek culture with Indic culture. There was a great university at Taxila and the great Sanskrit grammarian belonged to the same region which is today the border land between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The Bamiyan Buddhas were just one of the great creations of this by gone culture.
Afghan archaeologists have known since the 1960s about the importance of Mes Aynak, but almost nothing had been excavated.
So does this show the disregard on their side towards finds related to "pagan" times or just the fact that country has been in state of war for so long. Nevertheless, according to article, current gov of Astan was happy to start mining regardless of the fate of this find.
If they are taken out of the country at least the Taliban cannot blow them up.
Sad that the archeological site will be destroyed. I thought only evil Westerners had disregard for ancient cultural sites.
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