Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul [Paperback]

Fredrik Hiebert (Editor), Pierre Cambon (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 20, 2008

Almost 30 years ago, a precious trove of art was spirited away from the National Museum of Afghanistan by a small group of "keyholders" —museum guards, curators, and antiquities lovers who risked their lives to save the country’s cultural treasures. Their actions spared these magnificent pieces from the threat of destruction, first by the invading Soviets in 1979 and more recently by the Taliban. Exquisitely crafted in gold and ivory, the artifacts illustrate Afghanistan’s key place at the crossroads of Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, at the center of the ancient Silk Road—a rich heritage to be displayed at four major U.S. museums through 2009. Crowning this headline-making exhibition is a famous hoard of Bactrian gold, considered to be one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the 20th century.

To help create the exhibit and book, archaeologist and National Geographic Society Fellow Fredrik T. Hiebert inventoried the artifacts at the request of the Afghan government. Gorgeously photographed and elegantly packaged, the collection shines in this official companion to the much anticipated and widely covered tour.

For the eager audiences who will visit, and for legions of art and history lovers across the United States, Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures provides a beautiful, affordable keepsake, a handsome gift, and a rare opportunity to appreciate this matchless tradition of artistry and the steadfast human spirit that preserved it.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Fredrik T. Hiebert is an archaeologist and explorer who has traced ancient trade routes overland and across the seas for more than 20 years. He has led excavations at ancient Silk Road sites across Asia, from Egypt to Mongolia and rediscovered the lost "Bactrian Gold" in Afghanistan in 2004. His excavations at a 4,000-year-old Silk Road city in Turkmenistan made headlines around the world. Hiebert joined the National Geographic Society in 2003. He is the author of The Origins of Oasis Civilization in Central Asia (1994), A Central Asian Village at the Dawn of Civilization (2006) and Qal’at al-Bahain: A Trading and Military Outpost (2006).

Pierre Cambon is the chief curator of the Heritage of the Afghan/Pakistan Section of the Guimet Museum of Asiatic Arts in Paris, France. He is the editor of two books on the ancient cultures of Afghanistan: Afghanistan: Une Histoire Millénaire (2002) and Afghanistan: Les Trésors Retrouvés (2007) based on exhibitions at the Guimet Museum.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: National Geographic (May 20, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1426202954
• ISBN-13: 978-1426202957
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 1 x 10 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #417,389 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Archeology of Afghanistan, August 21, 2008

By 

Nadia Azumi - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul (Paperback)

*****I have tried to correct the star error without any success.I apologize for that.The book is a must to have.Exquisitely written and the pictures are a dream.It is not often that we see archeological discoveries of Afghanistan,let alone a book that we can keep looking at.I went to the exhibit,and I must say that the book did wonders for the exhibit.
The details of the pieces that you see with your own eyes,and then dream of were they were discovered how and by whom and look at the book.Oh I wish I discovered them myself.The pictures are very detailed,and come in different sizes.It is a collector's book which does credit to the writer.Very very well done.the history is written the pictures of the graveyards,how the skeletons were discovered with these fantastic pieces of gold.Everything is detailed.
A must have book.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Afghani History and Culture, September 20, 2008

By 

Lynn Ellingwood "The ESOL Teacher" (Webster, NY United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul (Paperback)

The Afghanis have gone through a lot. They have suffered for about 30 years now. Their culture and heritage have been destroyed and the Taliban have tried to force their beliefs on everyone. This culture throughout history has been pretty progressive in many ways but have always had rightist movements that kept it down. Several rulers and leaders have tried to promote the rights of women only to be successful for a short time before being slapped down by more conservative forces. This book is great for those wanting to learn about the ancient history of Afghanistan when it was a kingdom of Alexander The Great and the Greek rulers who came after him. The Silk Road also was a great influence on the culture. Much of the items would have been lost in the 70s except for the savvy museum employees who hid as much treasure as they could in the vault of the central bank. Much treasure and historic sites were destroyed but this treasure survived and it is a wonder to behold. I have some Afghani students who will love to look at this book and enjoy it. It will bring them pride.