Foreword

The ivory and bone carvings from Begram are one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the past century in Afghanistan. Over the decades following the outbreak of war in Afghanistan, in 1988 some of the contents of our National Museum were packed and shifted to the centre of Kabul for safe keeping and improved conservation and fortunately we still have these objects with us at the National Museum of Afghanistan. Sadly, the upper part of the museum building was destroyed by shelling in May 1993. During this period of confusion and destruction many of our most important and beautiful