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Afghanistan's Hidden Treasures

Concealed from invading Soviets, later from the Taliban, and feared lost, a trove of precious antiquities reveals the rich cultures that came together at one of history's great crossroads.

All artifacts shown belong to the National Museum of Afghanistan, Kabul.

/2008/06/afghan-treasures/img/1-gold-pendant-714.jpg /2008/06/afghan-treasures/img/afghan-60-01.jpg Photograph by Richard Barnes 4.9 inches (12.5 centimeters) tall
First century A.D. ]]> http://pictopia.com/perl/ptp/natgeo?photo_name=1162756 /2008/06/afghan-treasures/img/2-ivory-horserider-714.jpg /2008/06/afghan-treasures/img/afghan-60-02.jpg Photograph by Richard Barnes 11.8 in (30 cm) long
First century A.D.]]> http://pictopia.com/perl/ptp/natgeo?photo_name=1162752 /2008/06/afghan-treasures/img/3-gilded-plate-475.jpg /2008/06/afghan-treasures/img/afghan-60-03.jpg Photograph by Richard Barnes 9.8 in (25 cm) across
Third century B.C.
A gilded silver plate from the Greek colony of Ai Khanum unites classical deities and local designs. Watched by the Greek sun god Helios in his crown of rays, Cybele and Nike ride in a Central Asia-style chariot pulled by lions. The plate's creation followed Alexander the Great's fourth-century B.C. march into Asia.]]> http://pictopia.com/perl/ptp/natgeo?photo_name=1162761 /2008/06/afghan-treasures/img/4-female-statue-475.jpg /2008/06/afghan-treasures/img/afghan-60-04.jpg Photograph by Richard Barnes 17.9 in (45.6 cm) tall
First century A.D.
A sinuous sculpture in ivory resembles Ganga, India's river goddess. Hundreds of such ornate carvings in tusk and bone were found at Begram, along with Chinese lacquer, Egyptian glass, and other exotic goods that establish Afghanistan as a vibrant commercial center in the ancient world.]]> http://pictopia.com/perl/ptp/natgeo?photo_name=1162760 /2008/06/afghan-treasures/img/5-men-crate-475.jpg /2008/06/afghan-treasures/img/afghan-60-05.jpg Photograph by Richard Barnes /2008/06/afghan-treasures/img/6-bearded-mask-714.jpg /2008/06/afghan-treasures/img/afghan-60-06.jpg Photograph by Richard Barnes 3.7 in (9.5 cm) tall
First century A.D.
]]> http://pictopia.com/perl/ptp/natgeo?photo_name=1162759 /2008/06/afghan-treasures/img/7-looters-hole-714.jpg /2008/06/afghan-treasures/img/afghan-60-07.jpg Photograph by Steve McCurry /2008/06/afghan-treasures/img/8-spear-handle-475.jpg /2008/06/afghan-treasures/img/afghan-60-08.jpg Photograph by Richard Barnes 14.8 in (37.5 cm) long
First century A.D.
Foreign luxuries passed through Afghanistan on their way to other places, while local artists produced coveted things of beauty as well. The handle of a dagger from a nomad's burial at Tillya Tepe—with imaginary beasts on the shaft and a Siberian bear at the top—was likely made from native gold and turquoise.]]> http://pictopia.com/perl/ptp/natgeo?photo_name=1162758 /2008/06/afghan-treasures/img/9-plaster-medallion-475.jpg /2008/06/afghan-treasures/img/afghan-60-09.jpg Photograph by Richard Barnes 8.8 in (22.3 cm) across
First century A.D.
A plaster medallion of a youth, viewed here through an exhibit window, was uncovered at Begram along with other Greek-style figures. All may have been used to demonstrate what a craftsman could create in metal.

]]> http://pictopia.com/perl/ptp/natgeo?photo_name=1162763 /2008/06/afghan-treasures/img/10-gold-necklace-714.jpg /2008/06/afghan-treasures/img/afghan-60-10.jpg Photograph by Richard Barnes 11.5 in (29.1 cm) long
First century A.D.
Diverse artifacts offer glimpses into life in antiquity. A gold collar inlaid with gems was sewn to the robe of a noblewoman buried at Tillya Tepe. She and her fellow nomads probably wore their finery wherever they went.]]> http://pictopia.com/perl/ptp/natgeo?photo_name=1162754 /2008/06/afghan-treasures/img/11-spout-gargoyle-714.jpg /2008/06/afghan-treasures/img/afghan-60-11.jpg Photograph by Richard Barnes 8.3 in (21 cm) tall
Second century B.C.
A stone gargoyle from Ai Khanum spouted water at a fountain where people may have bathed after visiting a nearby gymnasium. ]]> http://pictopia.com/perl/ptp/natgeo?photo_name=1162764 /2008/06/afghan-treasures/img/12-fish-flask-714.jpg /2008/06/afghan-treasures/img/afghan-60-12.jpg Photograph by Richard Barnes 7.9 in (20 cm) long
First century A.D.
A glass flask in the shape of a fish survived a long journey to Begram from Egypt, then lay buried for centuries in the ruins of what experts now believe was a merchant's warehouse.]]> http://pictopia.com/perl/ptp/natgeo?photo_name=1162762 /2008/06/afghan-treasures/img/13-rooster-figurine-475.jpg /2008/06/afghan-treasures/img/afghan-60-13.jpg Photograph by Richard Barnes http://pictopia.com/perl/ptp/natgeo?photo_name=1162757 /2008/06/afghan-treasures/img/14-gold-ram-714.jpg /2008/06/afghan-treasures/img/afghan-60-14.jpg Photographs by Richard Barnes 2 in (5.2 cm) tall
First century A.D.
Exquisitely detailed and impeccably preserved, this golden ram once crowned a nomad's headdress. Its survival is cause for celebration—and a tribute to those who kept it safe through perilous times.]]> http://pictopia.com/perl/ptp/natgeo?photo_name=1162755 /2008/06/afghan-treasures/img/15-afghan-man-714.jpg /2008/06/afghan-treasures/img/afghan-60-15.jpg Photograph by Steve McCurry /2008/06/afghan-treasures/img/16-gold-crown-475.jpg /2008/06/afghan-treasures/img/afghan-60-16.jpg Photograph by Richard Barnes A.D. The five trees that rise to peaks could be detached from the headband, so that each piece could be laid flat and packed in a saddlebag when the tribe moved from place to place.]]> http://pictopia.com/perl/ptp/natgeo?photo_name=1162765 /2008/06/afghan-treasures/img/17-gold-clasp-714.jpg /2008/06/afghan-treasures/img/afghan-60-17.jpg Photograph by Richard Barnes http://pictopia.com/perl/ptp/natgeo?photo_name=1162766 /2008/06/afghan-treasures/img/18-gold-headdress-475.jpg /2008/06/afghan-treasures/img/afghan-60-18.jpg Photograph by Richard Barnes http://pictopia.com/perl/ptp/natgeo?photo_name=1162769 /2008/06/afghan-treasures/img/19-painted-vase-475.jpg /2008/06/afghan-treasures/img/afghan-60-19.jpg Photograph by Richard Barnes A.D. At the top, archers pursue wild creatures that include an antelope and a tiger. Below, a fisherman carries his catch over his shoulder. Such a unique and expensive piece was most likely on its way to a wealthy buyer along the network of trade routes that made up the legendary Silk Road.]]> http://pictopia.com/perl/ptp/natgeo?photo_name=1162767 /2008/06/afghan-treasures/img/20-ivory-plaque-714.jpg /2008/06/afghan-treasures/img/afghan-60-20.jpg Photograph by Richard Barnes http://pictopia.com/perl/ptp/natgeo?photo_name=1162770 /2008/06/afghan-treasures/img/21-hanging-backdrop-475.jpg /2008/06/afghan-treasures/img/afghan-60-21.jpg Photograph by Richard Barnes