| BHIR MOUND |
| Bhir Mound, the earliest city site of ancient Taxila, has been inscribed in 1980 upon the World Heritage List of the conventions concerning the protection of the World cultural and natural Heritage. Inscription on the List confirms the exceptional universal value of a cultural site, which deserves protection for the benefit of all humanity. Sir John Marshall and his colleagues excavated Bhir Mound from 1913 to 1925, Sir Mortimer wheeler in 1944-45, Dr. Muhammad Sharif in 1967-68 and Mr. Bahadur Khan from 1998 to 2001 worked here and reveated remains of two distinct cultural periods; Achaemenian and Mauryans. The Achaemenian Emperor Darius-I conquered Gandhara in 6th Century B.C. and founded the provincial capital city of Taxila. They introduced bent bar coin currency and Aramaic writing which provided origin to Punch Marked coins and a local script, known as Kharoshthi. After the defeat of Darius-III in 331 B.C., Taxila became independent under the local ruler Ambhi, who submitted to Alexander the Great in 326 B.C. At Taxila, Alexander received envoys from king Abhisares of Hazara and met with Kautiliya and Prince Chandragupta Maurya. Alexander, before marching further east to fight against King Porus, offered usual sacrifices, appointed Philip son of Machatas as viceroy, and left a garrison at Taxila. The death of Alexander in 323 B.C. broke the very fabric of his vast empire. Prince Chandragupta taking the advantage united the Indians under his flag, drove the Greek garrisons out of Taxila and proclaimed himself as sovereign king of India. In 305 B.C. Chandragupta defeated Selcucus Nikator and forced him to enter into an alliance with him. Under Mauryans, Taxila enjoyed the status of a provincial capital and a great educational and trade center. The Crown princes of the Mauryan Empire like Susima, Asoka and Kunala governed the city. Emperor Asoka introduced Buddhism in Gandhara and constructed the first Buddhist Stupa �Dharmarajika� at Taxila. Due to super imposed strata, remains of later Mauryan period have been exposed. The main city streets were laid in north south direction which smaller lanes in cast west direction. At some street crossings, large squares are provided with wells, which served as a place for community gatherings. After Asoka, the Mauryan Empire disintegrated and in 2nd century B.C. Gandhara and Bhir Mound (Taxila) was over run by Bactrian Greeks, who shifted the city site of ancient Taxila from Bhir mound to Sirkap. The ancient remains at Bhir Mound for their historic and architectural importance have been declared �protected antiquity� under the Antiquities Act-1975. And who so ever will destroy, break, damage, alter, injure, deface or mutilate or scribble, write or engage any inscription or sign on any antiquity shall be punishable under Section-19 of the said |