Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has witnessed another major archaeological breakthrough as Italian experts, working with the provincial Department of Archaeology, have discovered eight new historic sites stretching from Swat to Taxila. Excavations are already underway under the new “Khyber Path Project.”
According to officials, the three-year initiative, launched on June 1, 2025 aims to uncover ancient civilizations while promoting tourism and professional training in archaeology. Over 400 local workers have been employed and are being trained in excavation and preservation techniques.
Italian Archaeological Mission Director Dr. Luca said the project is nearing completion of its first phase. During excavations at Barikot in Swat, experts unearthed remains of a 1,200-year-old small temple, considered a rare example of the region’s continuous cultural heritage.
“This site shows traces from ancient kingdoms to the Ghaznavid period,” Dr. Luca said, noting that the newly found temple sits near the remains of an old Hindu shrine that once stood in the same area. The excavation zone has now been expanded toward the Swat River to protect and study the new findings.
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So far, Italian archaeologists have discovered more than 50 archaeological sites across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, representing layers of human history from the Stone Age to the Islamic era, including Greek, Buddhist, Hindu Shahi, and Ghaznavid civilizations.
