15 Oct Pakistan: Ancient Monument Nearly 100 Metres Long Unearthed
14 October 2026
An ancient monument almost 100 metres long and more than 50 metres wide has emerged from archaeological excavations at Jandial, in the Taxila area of Pakistan.
The discovery was made by the Italian Archaeological Mission in Pakistan, specifically by its ISMEO–Ca’ Foscari Archaeological Mission in Swat, directed by Prof. Luca M. Olivieri, in collaboration with the Directorate General of Archaeology and Museums of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
The monument, identified as Jandial D, stands opposite the well-known Ionic temple at Jandial, outside the walls of the ancient fortified city of Sirkap.
Although first reported in 1864 by the British archaeologist Alexander Cunningham, the structure had never been systematically studied.
The discovery is particularly significant for the size of the complex and its position in the archaeological landscape of Taxila, one of the main historic centres of the Gandhara region.
The building’s function has not yet been established. It may have been a public or religious monument, but further excavations and studies will be needed to clarify its purpose, chronology and relationship with the surrounding archaeological contexts.