Exhibition: Afghanistan, Crossroads of the Ancient World

LONDON. The British Museum is hosting the exhibition Afghanistan: Crossroads of the Ancient World, featuring over 200 objects found in Afghanistan dating from between 2000 BC to the first century AD. The Exhibition is on display from 03 March to 03 July 2011 at the British Museum in London Bloomsbury.


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.


Admission: £9, Members free
British Museum, Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3DG, United Kingdom