The Excavation of the Archaeological Site of Barikot (Bīr-kot-ghwandai) and its Chronological Sequence

The site of Barikot, after a preliminary investigation, was the subject of study by the Italian Archaeological Mission from 1978, when Giorgio Stacul began to investigate the flat area located South of the hill that gives a name to the site. The works of Stacul also brought to light important architectural remains of a large settlement of the historical period that was the subject of a successful series of excavations started in 1984. The archaeological data and the study of the historical sources have provided valuable confirmation of the identification, already proposed by A. Stein and G. Tucci, of this site with the city of Bazira remembered by Classical historians as conquered by Alexander in 327 BCE. The studies made so far have confirmed the great archaeological and historical importance of this urban site, located in a strategic position from which one can dominate the roads leading to the upper and lower valley of Swat and to Buner, and have highlighted the astonishing occupational continuity and the impressive stratigraphic sequence that make Barikot a crucial site for the understanding of the evolutional processes of the region. Despite some interruptions due to the international situation, the excavations have continued until today; ten trenches were opened on the alluvial plain at the foot of the hill or on the two artificial terraces overlooking the hill and were preceded by a complete survey of the site and of all the emerging structures.