Late Buddhist Zeitgeist in the sacred garden of Oḍiyāna

The text introduces the archaeological and cultural context of the initiative dedicated to preserving the Buddhist rock carvings in the Swat Valley. These reliefs, scattered throughout the Valley, hold significant cultural and historical importance. Dating from the 8th to the 10th centuries, they document the final phase of Buddhism in the Valley and illustrate the close relationship between people and their environment. The project employed advanced digital techniques to document the sites, facilitate future conservation, and create virtual experiences accessible through the website. It also carried out first aid conservation for the most at-risk sites and provided on the job training for local people. Additionally, it trained local heritage professionals in climate change adaptation. The project is funded by the British Council's Cultural Protection Fund of the British Government and implemented by EssaNoor Associates, Directorate of Archaeology and Museums Khyber Pakhtunkhwa(DOAM KP),The Italian Archaeological Mission(IAM), and The Heritage Management Organization.