On Wednesday, November 21, 2001 5:15 PM scerir scerir@libero.it wrote:
> Systematic excavations in Afghanistan commenced with the establishment
> of a French archaeological mission in Kabul in 1922, followed by missions
> from other European countries.
>
> The wealth of excavated material over the years was housed in the Kabul
Museum,
> the principal treasure house of Afghanistan's history and culture. The
wonderful
> objects from Ai Khanum were displayed in a large hall on the first floor
of the
> Kabul Museum, the gold from Tillya Tepe stored in six safes in the
basement.
>
> The Kabul Museum, since the Taliban came into power, is no more than a
shell,
> its precious objects destroyed, vandalised or sold into markets in
Pakistan.
> Nothing is known about the fate of the finds from Ai Khanum or Tillya
Tepe.
Sad to hear. I would hope much of it wound up in private collections or
foreign museums -- where it has a better chance of being preserved than in a
war zone.
Dan
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