Rock-art sites discovered near Siachen

The federal archaeology department claims to have discovered rock-art sites near the Siachen Glacier, between the villages of Domsum and Gulshan-i-Kabin on the left bank of Saltoro river in the Lower Sheyole (Khaplu) valley.

Khaplu is located in eastern Baltistan, some 103km away from Skardu. The engravings depicting animal and human figures and inscriptions on boulders and rocks in the sub-valleys of Khaplu are some of the oldest historic remains of the region.

[Dept Leader] Mr Arif says that Brenhmi letters and drawings of ibexes are engraved in a large number of rocks. On one boulder is engraved a warrior on horseback holding a shield in his left hand and a sword in his right besides several other figures of men in the standing posture. He says that Bonism and Buddhism were major religions of this area at the time…