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| 0509 |
Sand-Buried Ruins of Khotan : vol.1 |
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were almost invariably found intact. I may here note that
among all the sculptural decoration of the Stupa court I failed
to trace any evidence of wilful destruction by human agency, as
distinguished from such casual damage as the spasmodic burrow-
ings of "treasure-seekers" may have caused at some points of the
more exposed outer face of the enclosing wall. This observation
lends support to the belief, justified by other evidence, that this
great shrine was already long deserted and the ruins of its court
covered up by the time when Islam finally annexed Khotan.
It is possible that originally a wooden gallery or some similar
structure projecting from the top of the enclosing wall offered
shelter to the sculptures. But this, if it really existed, must have
been systematically removed even before the sand had completely
invaded the Stupa court, for only in one place near the inner south-
east face did my excavations bring to light some pieces of timber,
about 4 inches thick, that might have served for such a structure.
Considering how comparatively expensive an article building timber
is to this day in the immediate vicinity of a large Turkestan town,
we could scarcely be surprised at the early removal of this, the most
useful material the deserted shrine could offer.
The total number of individual relievos of large size, which were
unearthed along the cleared portions of the south-west and south-
east walls, amounted to ninety-one. In addition to these the finds
included many small relievos forming part of halos, &c., or deposited
as ex-votos before the main images. The position of all statues
was carefully shown in the ground-plan and a detailed description
of every piece of sculpture, with exact measurements, duly recorded.
In addition, I obtained a complete series of photographs of what-
ever sculptural work appeared on the excavated wall faces, the
aggregate length of which amounted in the end to more than 300
feet. It was no easy task to collect all these records with the
needful accuracy while directing the successive stages of the exca-
vation in atmospheric conditions trying alike to eyes, throat, and
lungs. Though Ram Singh and Turdi rendered, each in his own
way, very intelligent assistance, I had myself to remain in the
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