Tillya Tepe

Tillya Tepe

Crown from Tomb VI (female owner)
Shown within Continental Asia Show map of Continental Asia Tillya Tepe (Bactria) Show map of Bactria Tillya Tepe (Afghanistan) Show map of Afghanistan
Alternative name	Tillya Tepe
Location	Afghanistan
Coordinates	36°41′40″N 65°47′22″E / 36.69444°N 65.78944°E / 36.69444; 65.78944
Type	Burial ground

Tillya tepe, Tillia tepe or Tillā tapa (

Several coins dated up to the early 1st century CE, with none dated later, suggest a 1st-century CE date for the burial. The coins found in the excavations belonged to

A silver coin was found in one of the tombs from the reigns of the Parthian king Mithridates II, who ruled c. 123–88 BCE. The coin was found in tomb III, and was apparently held in the hand of the buried woman.

An imitation gold coin of Parthian King Gotarzes I (95-90 BCE) was found in the left hand of the woman in tomb VI. The fact that this coin is in gold, and not silver or bronze as is usually the case for Parthian coinage, suggest that this imitation was made for prestige purposes. The coin is counterstamped with the frontal depiction of what might have been a local chieftain. The counterstamp was added so as to not damage the portrait of the Parthian king, perhaps indicating some degree of dependency on the Parthians.

A gold coin was also found in tomb III showing the bust in profile of the wreath-crowned Roman Emperor Tiberius. On the reverse is an enthroned, sumptuously draped female figure holding a spray and scepter. Coins of this type were minted in the city of Lugdunum in Gaul, between 16 and 21 CE.^[4]

Finally, a very worn coin has been identified as belonging to the Yuezhi chieftain Heraios, or Sapadbizes (20 BCE - 20 CE).^[2]

It is thought that the site most likely belonged to the

These pieces have much in common with the famous

A high cultural

The artifacts were also intermixed with items coming from much farther, such as a few Chinese artifacts (especially Chinese bronze mirrors) as well as a few Indian ones (decorated ivory plates). This seems to be a testimony to the richness of cultural influences in the area of Bactria at that time.

Loss and re-discovery

The hoard was thought to have been lost at some point in the 1990s, the National Museum of Afghanistan having been looted numerous times resulting in a loss of 70% of the 100,000 objects on display.^[11] In 2003, however, it was found in secret vaults under the central bank building in Kabul.

In 1989 following a committee decision, the last Communist president of Afghanistan,

In 2003, after the Taliban was deposed, the new government wanted to open the vault, but the keyholders (called "tawadars") could not be summoned because their names were purposefully unknown. Hamid Karzai had to issue a decree authorizing the attorney general to go ahead with safecracking. But in time, the five key-holders were successfully assembled and the vault opened. Since then, the National Geographic Society has catalogued the collection, which appears to be complete – 22,000 objects. Also witnessing the re-opening were National Geographic Explorer and Archaeology Fellow Fredrik Hiebert and the archaeologist who originally found the hoard, Viktor Sarianidi.

Following an agreement between the Afghan government and

By 2020, the displays brought in over 350 million Afs ($4.5 million) for Afghanistan. In 2021, Mohammad Tahir Zuhair announced that the gold will be sent abroad for display and safekeeping.^[19]

2021

In August 2021, the Taliban took control of Kabul, and the treasure is apparently missing yet again.^[20]

Gallery

• 
  Eros

  . Tomb II, Tillia tepe.
• 
  Statuette of winged figurine
• 
  Cloth decorations.
• 
  Bracelets.
• 
  Decorative stars. Tomb I.
• 
  Amorini riding on fish, Tillia tepe. Tomb II.
• 
  Rings from Tillia tepe; the left one represents a seated Athena. Tomb II.
• 
  Necklace. Tomb II.
• 
  "Kings with dragons". Tomb II.
• 
  Men in armor, in Greek fighting gear. Tomb III.
• 
  "

  Akinakes

  " polylobed decorated daggers. Tomb IV.
• 
  Dyonisos and Ariadne

  riding a lion. Tomb VI.

Saka kurgans[21]
Salbyk Arzhan Pazyryk Issyk Boralday Taksai Eleke Sazy Tasmola Ingala Tillya Tepe
Arzhan-2 c. 650 BCE Bes Shatyr c. 550 BCE Taksai c. 500 BCE Ingala c. 500 BCE Tasmola 7th-5th centuries BCE Boralday c. 600-400 BCE Salbyk c. 600-400 BCE Eleke Sazy c. 600-400 BCE Berel-1 c. 350 BCE Pazyryk-1,2 c. 300 BCE Berel-11 c. 300 BCE Issyk c. 400-200 BCE Tillya Tepe 1st century BCE
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References

• Sarianidi, V. I. "The Treasure of Golden Hill." American Journal of Archaeology, Vol. 84, No. 2 (Apr., 1980), pp. 125–131."The Treasure of Golden Hill", JSTOR
• Sarianidi, Victor. 1990–1992. "Tilya Tepe: The Burial of a Noble Warrior." PERSICA XIV, 1990–1992, pp. 103–130.
• "Afghanistan, les trésors retrouvés", Musée des arts asiatiques Guimet,
  ISBN 2-7118-5293-8
• Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul (2008). Eds., Friedrik Hiebert and Pierre Cambon. National Geographic, Washington, D.C.
  ISBN 978-1-4262-0374-9
  .
• "L'Or De La Bactriane Fouilles De La Necropole De Tillia-Tepe." En Afghanistan Septentrional, Leningrad, Editions d'art Aurora, 1985

Further reading

Part of a series on the
History of Afghanistan
Timeline
Hephthalite Empire	410–557
Nezak Huns	484–711