Our Recommended Books
Welcome to our digital collection of research and publications. Our curated selection of open-access books focuses on three main areas: 1. Archaeology of the Swat Valley; 2. Gandhāran Buddhism; 3. Tibetan Buddhism and Himalayan Cultures.
Please explore a wide range of academic titles and resources here to support your studies and your personal interest in the topics!
Contact us if you have any book recommendations!
The History of the Ancient Era of Hunza State
The History of the Ancient Era of Hunza State, Part I
By Haji Qudratullah Beg
Translated by Lt. Col. Saadullah Beg | Edited by John Mock, Ph.D. | Note by Luca M. Olivieri
We are excited to announce the publication of The History of the Ancient Era of Hunza State, Part I, released in 2026 by Sang-e-Meel Publications under the auspices of the WAKSAW–Uḍḍiyāna Archaeological Alliance, as volume 6 of the Archival Studies sub-series of the ACT-Field School Project Reports and Memoirs.
Completed in Persian in 1962 as Tarikh-e Ahad-e Atiq-e Riyasat-e Hunza, this work is among the first histories of Hunza written by a Hunzakuts. Haji Qudratullah Beg spent forty-two years compiling it. It began in 1920 with the oral narratives of his grandfather, Wazirzada Muhammad Reza Beg, which Qudratullah Beg wrote down as they were recited. Across 224 chapters, the book follows the history of Hunza from its legendary first settlers to the British conquest of 1891–1892.
The English translation is by the author's son, Saadullah Beg. It has been edited by John Mock, who met the author in Baltit in 1982. The volume includes historic photographs, a regional map, a glossary of Burushaski and other local terms, and indexes. It makes this rare record of the oral tradition of the Karakoram available to a wide readership for the first time.
Published by Sang-e-Meel Publications, Lahore
ISBN: 978-969-35-3768-0
Click here to see a preview of the book (first 35 pages)
Uḍḍiyāna: The Way of Swāt
Uḍḍiyāna: The Way of Swāt
By Giuseppe Tucci
Edited by Giuseppe Vignato | With Notes by Luca M. Olivieri | Preface by Abdul Samad
We are proud to announce the publication of Uḍḍiyāna: The Way of Swāt, released in 2025 by Sang-e-Meel Publications under the auspices of the WAKSAW–Uḍḍiyāna Archaeological Alliance.
This commemorative volume marks the 70th anniversary of the Italian Archaeological Mission in Swat (1955–2025) and brings together two of Tucci’s seminal works—Travels of Tibetan Pilgrims in the Swāt Valley (1940) and La Via dello Swāt (1963/1978)—enriched with new notes and illustrations spanning seventy years of archaeological research.
Featuring historic and contemporary photographs, updated maps of pilgrimage routes, and new insights into Swat’s layered past, the book highlights the enduring importance of Swat as a crossroads of civilizations and a spiritual homeland of Vajrayāna Buddhism.
Published by Sang-e-Meel Publications, Lahore
ISBN: 978-969-35-3691-1
Click here to download a free copy of the book!
Vajirasthāna:
Archaeology of the Barikot Hilltop (Swat, Pakistan) - Luca M. Olivieri
The present book, by Luca Maria Olivieri and his collaborators, takes its title from the toponym Vajirasthāna, occurring in a Śāradā inscription found at Barikot and transferred to the Lahore Museum in 1898. The three-volume book offers an immersive look at the recent 2022–2024 project, supported by the ALIPH Foundation, which focused on restoring the Barikot hilltop acropolis and its monumental terraces. More than a simple archaeological report, the text weaves a narrative of international cooperation among scholars worldwide and a deep-rooted partnership with Pakistani authorities. It highlights a modern, multidisciplinary approach where traditional field data meets cutting-edge technology, including 3D reconstructions and digital documentaries accessible via links within the pages. By combining scientific rigor with an engaging, discursive style, this work serves as both a record of monumental achievement and a guide for future discovery.
Published by: Sang-e-meel Publications, Lahore
Ebook
The new Swat Archaeological Museum
Architectural Study, Master Plan and Execution
The 2011 publication "The New Swat Archaeological Museum: Architectural Study, Master Plan and Execution," authored by Ivano Marati and Candida Maria Vassallo , is a critical case study in contemporary Mediterranean and Asian museology. It documents the ambitious project of reconstructing and modernizing the Swat Museum in Saidu Sharif, Pakistan, following its partial damage during the regional crisis of 2008–2009. This volume provides a comprehensive technical record of how international archaeological missions can integrate heritage preservation with modern architectural requirements.
The text is structured as a technical and methodological manual for monumental restoration. It details the master plan—a collaborative effort between the Italian Archaeological Mission and local authorities—which aimed not only to house the world-class Gandharan collection but also to create a seismic-resistant, sustainable cultural hub.
The authors provide an in-depth analysis of the structural interventions, focusing on the synthesis between the original 1963 design by Vittorio Cabiati and the new functional expansions required for modern archival and exhibition standards.
Published by: Sang-e-meel Publications, Lahore
ISBN: 9693526643
Buddhist Architecture in the Swat Valley, Pakistan
Stupas, Viharas, a Dwelling Unit
This volume offers a comprehensive investigation into the Buddhist monumental heritage of the Swat Valley, Pakistan, based on decades of fieldwork by the Italian Archaeological Mission (IsMEO/IsIAO).
Moving beyond traditional excavation reports, the book provides a sophisticated analysis of how stupas, viharas, and monasteries were masterfully integrated into the natural landscape to form complex sacred ecosystems.
The core of the study examines the large stupas situated outside the primary excavation zones, such as the iconic Amluk Dara, Shankardar, and the sprawling complex of Tokar Dara.
Richly illustrated with technical surveys, plan views, and axonometric reconstructions, this work serves as a vital archive of a vanishing heritage. Many of the monuments described were surveyed in 1993 and have since suffered significant degradation or total disappearance.
By documenting these sites with clinical precision, the volume fulfills the scientific vision of Domenico Faccenna, providing a firm foundation for understanding the evolution of Gandharan architecture and the social organization of the monastic communities that once flourished in the Swat Valley.
Published by: Sang-e-meel Publications, Lahore
ISBN: 969352683X