Photo 1006/1(24)

View of the damaged stupa, before excavation. The circumstances are described in Spooner's annual report:

'We had not uncovered the little stupa above referred to more than a few inches before it became apparent that it still preserved its original ornamentation in stucco, consisting of a line of friezes composed of elephants and Atlases alternating, and not only in situ, but in most admirable preservation. In the hope, therefore, of protecting these delicate friezes, it was decided not uncover it further for the present, and a trench was led past it merely, but at such a distance as to leave it enveloped in its covering of earth. However, despite these precautions, I found on returning to the site one morning that some one had been there in our absence, and either out of fanaticism or out of pure wantonness scraped away the earth, and with some strong instrument totally demolished the frieze of Atlases and elephants so far as it was accessible, namely on three sides of the building! I therefore determined to complete the excavation of this stupa first of all in order to register photographically whatever artistic evidence might yet be preserved before further accidents might happen, and was delighted on laying bare the northern side, the one untouched by the vandals, to find that it had been the front of the building, and therefore adorned with a frieze of still greater interest than those which had been wrecked.. And it was found, too, that there was still another frieze on each side of the building below the one at first uncovered, the lower one being composed of seated Buddha figures between Corinthian pilasters as in the case of the religious building already mentioned. The workmanship in the case of the stupa friezes, however, was distinctly superior to that of the temple façade.' (Annual Report of the Archaeological Survey of India, Frontier Circle, for 1906-07 (Peshawar: 1907), p. 13).

Visited by D. B. Spooner at various times between January and April 1907 and for an extended period of excavation from 12 February to 20 April.