Kabul Fortress Reveals 2,000 Years of History

Archaeological excavations at Kabul’s Bala Hissar fortress are revealing more than 2,000 years of Afghan history, including evidence of ancient settlements, Buddhist religious structures and later Islamic occupation. Among the standout finds are remains of a Mughal-era palace with murals, bathing facilities and a throne-like structure, as well as a star-shaped pool carved into bedrock whose precise purpose remains uncertain. Coins, Buddhist sculpture fragments, ceramics, lamps and pottery are helping researchers trace how the fortress changed across successive periods. A long-term conservation effort is working to preserve the damaged site and develop it as a public archaeological park with gardens, a museum and other visitor facilities.