Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures

The treasured collections of the Afghan National Museum, once thought lost or stolen after 25 years of war and chaos, were actually saved, having been hidden away by a few brave Afghans who risked their lives preserving their nation’s ancient cultural heritage. 

These collections are now a part of a traveling exhibition, “Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures From the National Museum, Kabul.” This unique exhibition explores the art and cultural themes of ancient Afghanistan – a critical area of the ancient and modern world that is virtually unknown to the American public. Featuring some 228 objects ranging in date from 2200 B.C. to the second century A.D. and drawn from four archaeological sites, the exhibition features more than 100 gold ornaments from the famed “Bactrian hoard,” found in 1978 in Tillya Tepe, the site of six nomad graves, that reveal a synthesis of Greek, Roman, Persian, Indian, Chinese, and Siberian styles.

Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures, a documentary narrated by celebrated Afghan-American author Khaled Hosseini, gives an overview of this important exhibition and tells the fascinating story of Afghan’s ancient past, the discovery and re-discovery of these important collections, and the international effort to develop their world tour.

Product Information

• Run Time: Approx. 30 mins.
• Release Date: 2008
• Letterbox version