Culture

Historical Heritages of Ancient Zahak City Needs Renovation

Monday October 13, 2014
Kabul (BNA) The ancient city of Zahak is located 20km to the eastern part of central Bamyan province in Shashpol area and on triangle part of the ancient and historical “Silk Rout”.
In a telephonic interview with the Kabul Times correspondent, Head of Bamyan Provincial Information and Culture Department, Kabir Dadras said that the strong buildings and walls built in the city indicate that it had been used as defense center and for monitoring and control of trade convoys passing through the route, the ancientness of the city goes to the 5th or 6th century or the Yaftali period.  “The ancient and strong buildings which exist in the city reveal that it belong to 5th or 6th century in terms of their historical background,” Dadras said.  “It indicates that in the past the buildings used to be as defense center and monitoring and controlling point on commercial and trade convoys passing through same rout.”
Highlighting the pathetic conditions of the historical and ancient heritages in Zahak city, head of Bamyan provincial information and culture department said that majority of the ancient monuments in Zahak city are on edge of collapse which need rapid concentration. “The historical monuments of Zahak city are on risk of collapse, so far, archeological and discoveries have not conducted in the city, we want more archeological studies and evaluations to take place in the area next year to see what sorts of historical relics really exist there, but during the current year, some positive programs were undertaken including aerial photography, renovation and rehabilitation process will be launched next year, Bamyan is among one of Afghanistan’s cold regions and sometimes heavy snowfall and rains basically cause obstructions on way of rehabilitation programs,” Dadras said.  Responding to a question with respect to the illegal discoveries in the historical site, Dadras said that the provincial information and culture department doesn’t have enough financial and monetary capabilities to undertake necessary measures to protect Zahak city, because there is no enough budget available.
“The provincial information and culture has no enough financial resources to ensure protection of Zahak city, in 2013 only some security guards were hired to prevent illegal discoveries and smuggling of relics and to avoid further devastations on the historical sites during the winter season,” Dadras further said. “There are at least eight ancient sites in Bamyan which are part of the cultural heritages Shar-e-Ghulghola (city of screams), Kurk valley, Bamyan Buddha Statues, Ghumi Fort, Qul-e-Akram and the ancient Zahak city are among the eight cultural and historical heritages which have been included into UNESCO cultural heritages list in 2013,” Dadras said, asserting that alongside the upper heritages, there are also a number of cultural heritages and monuments in center of Bamyan province including existence of Chehel Burj Fort in Yakawlang, Sheegar and many more sites in Sarkhoshak districts, there are also tens of monuments in Waras district, in recent years, stabilization works on Bamyan statues were also undertaken, the Italian embassy provided nearly $1.2 million, the first phase has been completed and the second phase is underway these days and the third phase will be started in 2015.”
Meanwhile, a number of field analysts and archeologists have also expressed their concerns over the destruction of ancient and historical monuments in Bamyan particularly the Zahak city and its monuments, saying that lack of concentration of the responsible organs, climate issues and other natural changes such as rains and snowfalls have badly damaged the monuments of Zahak city. The archeologists have warned that if the concerned organs such as Ministry of Information and Culture, government of Afghanistan and international community don’t concentrate on the issue, soon the cultural heritages will be demolished in the area and it would cause a major historical lose to the world cultural legacy.  Therefore, all responsible institutions preserve obligations to contribute in enhancing efforts and cooperation for protection and renovation of the cultural and ancient monuments in all regions of Afghanistan including Bamyan province.   This comes at a time that provincial information and culture department has reported about implementation of some inclusive rehabilitation programs next year to protect the ancient Zahak city. 

Show More

Related Articles

Back to top button