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Afghanistan: Crossroads of the Ancient World

3 March – 3 July 2011  /  Room 35  /  Admission charge, Members free

For centuries, Afghanistan has been the point where civilisations have crossed paths,
a critical point for trade and where great powers met.

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At the heart of the Silk Road, Afghanistan was the historic link between ancient Iran, Central Asia, India, China and the more distant cultures of Greece and Rome.

The country’s unique location resulted in a legacy of extraordinarily rare objects, prized both for their wonderful craftsmanship and aesthetic beauty.

The exhibition features over 200 objects from 2000 BC to the 1st century AD, from gold ornaments and glass vessels to ivory furniture and limestone sculptures, all from the National Museum in Kabul.

The objects were found between 1937 and 1978, but were thought to have been lost following the Soviet invasion in 1979 and the subsequent civil war when the National Museum was bombed.

During this period, a handful of Afghan officials deliberately concealed these precious objects, and they are now travelling the world, highlighting the importance of the cultural heritage of Afghanistan and the remarkable achievements and trading connections of these past civilisations.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to discover the hidden culture of a nation in conflict.

In the press

Kabul calling: British Museum set for
Afghanistan exhibition
Guardian, Vanessa Thorpe

British Museum to host major Afghan
art exhibition
The Telegraph, Stephen Adams

British Museum to show major works
from Afghanistan
The Art Newspaper, Martin Bailey

Image: Gold crown. From Tillya Tepe, Afghanistan, 1st century AD. National Museum of Afghanistan. © Musée Guimet/Thierry Ollivier.

 

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