Kharoṣṭhi Inscriptions from Aziz Ḍheri

Study and Analysis

Abstract

The site of Aziz Ḍheri is located about three kilometres west of the village of Ganghu Ḍher and about 11 kilometres north of the Jrando bridge, a flyover constructed over a canal on the main Mardan-Swabi road (Fig. 1). The area is surrounded by mountains to the north, north-east and north-west. Recent research has showed that the area is rich in archaeological heritage which dates back to the pre-historic period as shown by the discovery of dozens of sites found in the area. Most of these sites are either looted by the antique seekers or levelled by their owners to turn them into agricultural land. But there are still very well preserved sites that need attention. The Megaliths at Asota near Shewa village are located about 4 kilometres to the south-west of Aziz Dheri and the site is almost preserved and is protected under the Antiquity Act of Pakistan. The 24 megaliths are arranged in circle whereas each one is about 3m high. The total number of the megaliths was 32. Similar megaliths are reported from Turlandi (Khan, SN 1995: 115 and Khan, B 2003) and other places of the Mardan-Swabi plain. Close to Asota megaliths, graves have been recently discovered that are made of large slabs and can be compared with Adina graves, located to the west of Asota. They may belong to the Kuṣāna period. Another important site situated close to the site are the remains at Rani Ghat (Nishikava 1994) situated to the north-east of Aziz Dheri. . . .