Mes Aynak — Buddhist Monastery and Copper Mine
Kushan to Islamic (100 BCE–800 CE) copper mine with Buddhist monastery·Kushan then Ghaznavid copper mining Buddhist·🇦🇫 Logar Province, Afghanistan
About
About Mes Aynak — Buddhist Monastery and Copper Mine
Mes Aynak — Buddhist Monastery and Copper Mine in Logar Province, Afghanistan is a Kushan to Islamic (100 BCE–800 CE) copper mine with Buddhist monastery ancient-city attributed to Kushan then Ghaznavid copper mining Buddhist. Hilltop Buddhist monastic complex 400 ha with copper slag heaps and stupas surrounding Mes Aynak copper lode. Ball Mes Aynak 10 stupas and 400 Buddha sculptures with 5,000 years copper at world's 2nd largest copper deposit.
Why it mattersKey Gandharan–Kushan monastery illustrating Buddhist expansion
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Gandhara art evolution
- 02Kushan imperial network
Theories
- 01Monastic economy
- 02Greco-Buddhist fusion
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 100 BCE copper; monastery 400 CE
- Period
- Kushan to Islamic (100 BCE–800 CE) copper mine with Buddhist monastery
- Culture
- Kushan then Ghaznavid copper mining Buddhist
- Purpose
- Hilltop Buddhist monastic complex 400 ha with copper slag heaps and stupas surrounding Mes Aynak copper lode
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 100 BCE copper; monastery 400 CE
Initial construction
c. 1900 CE
Modern excavation
On the ground
Structures & features
34.2600° N · 69.3600° E · 2100 m · 3 mapped features
Mes Aynak — Buddhist Monastery and Copper Mine — Citadel Mound
citadelCitadel
34.2601° N · 69.3601° EMes Aynak — Buddhist Monastery and Copper Mine — Lower Town Street
streetStreet and shops
34.2598° N · 69.3602° EMes Aynak — Buddhist Monastery and Copper Mine — Bazaar Axis
bazaarBazaar and ivories deposit
34.2604° N · 69.3598° E