Book Title: Indian Antiquary Vol 58
Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications
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MAROH, 1929)
ALEXANDER'S CAMPAIGN ON THE N.-W. FRONTIER
What time I could spare for this ancient stronghold from the survey of the numerous and interesting Buddhist ruins in the several valleys above Bîr-kôt would not allow of any attempt at excavation. But on the line of wall protecting the north-western end of the hilltop (Fig. 2) we came upon curious relics of the means once employed for its defence. We found there numbers of round water-worn stones, undoubtedly brought from the river-bed, of different sizes such as would be used for slings or as heavier missiles. In one heap, which a little experimental digging revealed as one of the ruined towers, there came to light not less than thirty-eight "rounds" of such antique ammunition.
An assured water-supply was essential for the occupation of the site as a stronghold, and in this respect the hill of Bir-kôt was very favourably situated. A main branch of the Swat river flows round the rocky northern slopes and washes their base so closely that no practicable track can be found there. The steepness of the eroded slopes shows that the river must have flown past there for ages. It is certain that as long as the hilltop was defended it was very difficult for an enemy to cut off access to the river-bank. There might have been defences on this side also; for when I descended from the hilltop, in places with difficulty, on the slope to the west of the above-mentioned ravine I noticed remains of old walls and everywhere abundance of ancient potsherds. Walled-up terraces and remnants of old foundations clinging to the rocky slopes were found also to the east of the ravine.
There is some reason to suppose that the occupants of the ancient fastness were not content to trust for the safety of their water-supply entirely to the natural defence provided by the precipitous slopes. I had been told of two rock-cut passages leading into the hill from above the river, and on my descent from the top was shown the entrance to one of them at an elevation of about 180 feet above the river. The height of the entrance is only about 4 feet at the outside. But once a low doorway, built with masonry of the peculiar type familiar from Buddhist structures in Gandhåra, is passed, the height of the gallery, vaulted with horizontal courses of roughly cut slabs, rises to over 10 feet. The width of the gallery between the masonry lining is about 3 feet. In places this lining had fallen and left the rock walls bare. I could ascend the gallery only for circ. 16 yards, where I found it blocked by fallen rock. Recesses for & square bolt on either side of the low doorway showed that it could be closed from the inside.
After descending the precipitous slope to about 100 feet above the river, I was shown the exit of another tunnel further to the east. It could be entered only with some difficulty, and looked in places more like a succession of natural rock fissures which had been utilized by man. Here, too, ancient masonry of the Gandhara type was to be seen in places over the distance of some 25 yards which alone was possible of ascent. Large fallen blocks of stone barred progress beyond. Judging from the local reports both passages had often been searched for "treasure." Only thorough clearing, which would claim time and adequate preparations, could furnish definite evidence as to their direction and purpose. But that one of them, if not both, were meant to provide safe access to water for those holding the fortified hilltop appears to me distinctly probable.
The great antiquity of the site and its prolonged occupation are abundantly attested by the plentiful finds of coins which are made on the top of the Bîr-kot hill and on its slopes, especially after rain. Most of the coins are melted down promptly or, in the case of gold and silver pieces, find their way down to dealers at Peshawar or Rawalpindi. But even thus a rapid search made at Bir-kót village secured me a large miscellaneous collection of copper coins of pre-Muhammadan date. The specimens range from issues of the Indo-Greek and Indo-Parthian kings and of the Indo-Scythian or Kushana rulers down to the mintages which preceded the downfall of the Hindu Shahi dynasty before Mahmûd of Ghazna, about the beginning of the eleventh century. Most numerous are pieoes issued by Azes, Azilises, and other Indo-Scythian kings who exercised extensive rule on the north-western confines of India during the first century B.O., as well as specimens of the copper coinage of the Kushåna Emperors who succeeded them.
