Butkara III — Swat Buddhist Stupa North Annex
Mauryan to Hindu Shahi (300 BCE–1000 CE)·Gandhara Buddhist·🇵🇰 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
About
About Butkara III — Swat Buddhist Stupa North Annex
Butkara III — Swat Buddhist Stupa North Annex in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan is a Mauryan to Hindu Shahi (300 BCE–1000 CE) temple-complex attributed to Gandhara Buddhist. Stupa annex north of Butkara I with later Mahayana sculptures. Faccenna Butkara III annex 1 km north Butkara I with chapels.
Why it mattersKey Gandhara Buddhist stratigraphic tell for Syro-Mesopotamian sequence
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Halaf–Ubaid transition
- 02Neo-Assyrian administration
Theories
- 01Pottery kiln seriation
- 02Trade route monitoring
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 300 BCE
- Period
- Mauryan to Hindu Shahi (300 BCE–1000 CE)
- Culture
- Gandhara Buddhist
- Purpose
- Stupa annex north of Butkara I with later Mahayana sculptures
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 300 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1920 CE
Modern survey
On the ground
Structures & features
34.7700° N · 72.3600° E · 900 m · 3 mapped features
Butkara III — Swat Buddhist Stupa North Annex — Fire Temple Cella
cellaCella with altar
34.7701° N · 72.3601° EButkara III — Swat Buddhist Stupa North Annex — Entrance Pylon
pylonPylon
34.7698° N · 72.3601° EButkara III — Swat Buddhist Stupa North Annex — Stele Base
steleStele
34.7704° N · 72.3598° E