The DC Traveler

Hidden Treasures of Afghanistan

by Jon on May 22nd, 2008

After 25 years of civil war and internal conflict in Afghanistan, it was thought that many of Afghanistan’s cultural and historical treasures had been lost or stolen.  Luckily, three years after the fall  of the Taliban in late 2001, over 22,000 artifacts were discovered in a vault located under the Presidential Palace in Kabul and in other locations.

The works belong to the National Museum of Afghanistan in Kabul. Their collection of over 100,000 items was once one of the finest in Central Asia, and housed antiquities from over 4,000 years of Afghan history, including the periods of Alexandria, Greek, Buddhist, and Muslim periods, among others. 

What made so much of the collection unique was that Afghanistan was located on the Silk Road, which stretched from China to the Mediterranean, and resulted in multi-cultural trading.

Under the Taliban’s control in 1996, the Taliban ransacked what was left in the museum after the Soviet occupation. Many items in the collection were sold on the black market and smuggled out of the country or simply destroyed. 

The Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul exhibit opening on Saturday at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC includes over 200 pieces that date from 2200 BC to 200 AD and highlights four archaeological sites across the country. The works includes over 100 gold pieces and ornaments, sculptures, bronzes, ivories and glassware, some local pieces, while others were bartered by traders that traveled the Silk Road.

This exhibit is a rare chance to see some amazing artifacts from the region.

In addition to the exhibit, a 28-minute documentary film Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul will feature footage of the 2004 recovery of some of the artifacts.

The National Gallery of Art will also offer a diverse selection of exhibit-related lectures, docent-led gallery talks, musical concerts, films and learning activities for the entire family.

After touring the exhibit, enjoy some Silk Road-inspired cuisine at the National Gallery of Art’s Garden Café. The café will feature both buffet and à la carte menus featuring signature dishes from local chefs, including Tim Elliott from Mie N Yu in Georgetown, Chef Lala from Bamian Afghan Cusin in suburban Falls and, Church among other.

I recently had the opportunity to sample many of the special Silk Road dishes that were created especially for the exhibit at an event at the Embassy of Afghanistan. And trust me, this is one time you should seriously consider dining at a museum café.

Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul
National Gallery of Art - East Building, Upper Level
4th and Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20565 (map it)

Dates and Times  - Daily, May 25 - Sept. 7, 2008  Hours - Monday - Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Sundays 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Tickets - Museum, exhibit, concerts, tours and movie admission is FREE.

Nearest Metro Subway Station - Archives - Yellow and Green lines, then a 2 block walk.

Parking - Metered street parking is available in the area.

Images - all National Museum of Afghanistan, ©Thierry Ollivier / Musée Guimet. 1) Male or female head (Aï Khanum, Temple with niches, Courtyard), 2nd century BC, unfired clay, 3) Pair of bracelets in the form of antelopes (Tillya Tepe, Tomb II), 1st century BC-1st century AD, gold, turquoise, and carnelian, 4) Pair of pendants depicting the “Dragon Master” (Tillya Tepe, Tomb II), 1st century BC-1st century AD, gold, turquoise, garnet, lapis lazuli, carnelian, and pearl, 6) Goblet depicting figures harvesting dates (Begram, Room 10), 1st-2nd centuries AD, glass and paint, 8) Jug in the form of a kinnari (Begram, Room 13), 1st-2nd centuries AD, ceramic 

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POSTED IN: Food & Beverage, Movies, Museums, Music, Special Events