A remarkably detailed terracotta figurine of a dancing woman wearing earrings and bangles has been discovered at Beher Mound near Islamabad, part of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Taxila. Measuring just 12 by 7 centimeters, this 2,300-year-old artifact preliminary dated to the 3rd century BCE shows expressive artistic sophistication rare in early terracotta work. Researchers note the joyful dancing posture challenges assumptions about austere lifestyles in early Jain communities, with whom similar figurines have been linked. A shaped quartz object was also found alongside the figurine, which is currently undergoing conservation before display at the Taxila Museum.
3rd century BCE terracotta dancing figurine found at Taxila, Pakistan
PakistanExcavationNew Research
Key facts
- 2,300 years old
- Beher Mound near Islamabad, Pakistan
- Part of UNESCO World Heritage site Taxila
- Terracotta figurine of woman mid-dance with earrings and bangles
- 12 by 7 cm in size
- Preliminarily dated to 3rd century BCE
- Expressive detail and artistic sophistication rare in early terracotta art
- Similar figurines linked to early Jain communities
- Joyful dancing posture challenges assumptions of austere early Jain life
- Shaped quartz object found alongside figurine
- Objects undergoing conservation before display at Taxila Museum
Site mentioned
Sources
Dancing Girl from Mohenjo-darosmarthistory.org
This small bronze statuette (only 4 inches in height), depicts a nude young woman, with a coiled hairstyle and bangles adorning her arms.
Dancing Girl (prehistoric sculpture)en.wikipedia.org
The statue is 10.5 centimetres (4.1 in) tall, and depicts a nude young woman or girl with stylized ornaments, standing in a confident, naturalistic pose.
2300-Year-Old Dancing Terracotta Figurine Reveals Early ...arkeonews.net
Among the most striking finds are a dancing terracotta female figurine and a carefully shaped quartz artefact, both dating to the late Mauryan ...
Dancing terracotta figurine from 3rd century BC hints at ...dawn.com
TAXILA: A newly-discovered quartz artefact and a terracotta female figurine, dated back to the early 3rd century BC, captured mid-dance, ...
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