An archaeological site in present-day Afghanistan that was excavated between 1952 and 1965. The excavations uncovered an architectural complex, including a temple, and artefacts such as inscriptions and sculptures in costumes that are similar to the headless Kanishka statue unearthed near Mathura, India. The inscriptions suggest a date congruent with the reign of Kanishka, the third Kusana Emperor, or one of his successors. The temple is speculated to be a dynastic shrine dedicated to the Kusana rulers.
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Archaeology & Prehistory | Sites & Regions | Premodern Culture | All Afghanistan | Northern Afghanistan | Ancient (300 BCE–600 CE)
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ChicagoImpart Encyclopedia of Art. "Surkh Kotal." Last updated February 17, 2026. https://imp-art.org/definitions/surkh-kotal/.
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MLA"Surkh Kotal." Impart Encyclopedia of Art, Feb. 17, 2026, https://imp-art.org/definitions/surkh-kotal/.
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HarvardImpart Encyclopedia of Art (2026) Surkh Kotal. Available at: https://imp-art.org/definitions/surkh-kotal/ (Accessed: 3 March 2026).
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