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Pakistan unveils remains of 1,700-year-old sleeping Buddha
Source: Reuters
Pakistan unveils remains of 1,700-year-old sleeping Buddha
Reuters in Haripur
Wednesday 15 November 2017 20.03 GMT
Pakistan has unveiled the remains of a 1,700-year-old sleeping Buddha as part of an initiative to encourage tourism and project religious harmony in a region roiled by Islamist militancy.
A reflection of the diverse history and culture of the south Asian country, the ancient Buddhist site in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province was first discovered in 1929. Eighty-eight years on, excavations resumed and the 14-metre-high (48-ft-high) Kanjur stone Buddha image was unearthed. The country’s opposition leader, Imran Khan, presided over Wednesday’s presentation.
“This is from the 3rd century AD, making it the world’s oldest sleeping Buddha remains,” Abdul Samad, director of Bhamla’s archaeology and museums department, told Reuters.
“We have discovered over 500 Buddha objects and this 48ft-long sleeping Buddha remains,” he added.
Khan said: “It’s a question of preserving these heritage sites which are an asset for our country.”
-snip-
Reuters in Haripur
Wednesday 15 November 2017 20.03 GMT
Pakistan has unveiled the remains of a 1,700-year-old sleeping Buddha as part of an initiative to encourage tourism and project religious harmony in a region roiled by Islamist militancy.
A reflection of the diverse history and culture of the south Asian country, the ancient Buddhist site in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province was first discovered in 1929. Eighty-eight years on, excavations resumed and the 14-metre-high (48-ft-high) Kanjur stone Buddha image was unearthed. The country’s opposition leader, Imran Khan, presided over Wednesday’s presentation.
“This is from the 3rd century AD, making it the world’s oldest sleeping Buddha remains,” Abdul Samad, director of Bhamla’s archaeology and museums department, told Reuters.
“We have discovered over 500 Buddha objects and this 48ft-long sleeping Buddha remains,” he added.
Khan said: “It’s a question of preserving these heritage sites which are an asset for our country.”
-snip-
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/15/pakistan-unveils-remains-of-1700-year-old-sleeping-buddha
2 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
They have a history of destroying antiquities. I hope that they don't get to this one 
Of course if it was a Christian antiquity, they'd have to watch out for that Hobby Lobby guy.
... why do they put this photo in the article?
Googling Pakistan's "sleeping Buddha" gives us the second photo.
(A 'sleeping Buddha' of which there are a number, is typically lying down - see 3rd photo)
article photo:
Pakistan's 'sleeping Buddha":
