Traces of Faith: Uncovering the Lost Contexts of Gandharan Reliquaries HIRR Case (ARCH 2026-0003)

Abstract This study examines the archaeological, historical, and custodial context of Stupa No. 10 (Tope Kelan) in the Hadda region of eastern Afghanistan and its relationship to the nearby monastic complex of Tepe Maranjan. The research was conducted under the Integrated Relic Custodianship Model (IRCM) to evaluate available evidence concerning the reported discovery of tradition-associated tooth relics, associated treasure deposits, and the broader patterns of Buddhist veneration that flourished in Afghanistan between the fourth and seventh centuries CE. Historical accounts preserved in the records of Charles Masson describe the excavation of an exceptionally sophisticated subterranean relic chamber containing a large bronze vessel, numerous jewels, ashes, and tradition-associated tooth relics. The chamber was reportedly associated with Byzantine coinage issued during the reigns of Theodosius II, Marcian, and Leo, providing an important chronological framework for the final sealing of the deposit. However, the antiquarian methods employed during the nineteenth-century excavation resulted in the irreversible loss of stratigraphic information and provenance data, creating significant limitations for modern archaeological interpretation. In contrast, the nearby Buddhist monastery of Tepe Maranjan demonstrates a different mode of religious expression. Formal archaeological investigations conducted by Gérard Fussman, Jean Carl, Zemaryalaï Tarzi, and the Afghan Institute of Archaeology documented extensive monastic architecture, clay Buddha statues, and Sasanian coinage, yet no bodily relics were discovered. The comparison between these two sites reveals the coexistence of relic-centered and image-centered devotional traditions within the wider Buddhist landscape of late antiquity. The evidence assembled in this study suggests that Tope Kelan functioned as a major relic repository and ceremonial deposit site, while Tepe Maranjan operated primarily as an iconic monastic center emphasizing sculptural representation rather than bodily relic veneration. The research further highlights the long-term consequences of undocumented artifact extraction and incomplete inventories, particularly regarding the alleged concealment of relic and treasure records by early excavators. This publication does not seek to establish biological authentication of the reported relics. Rather, it documents historical correlations, archaeological observations, custodial discontinuities, and institutional preservation concerns. Through the IRCM framework, the study contributes to a broader understanding of Buddhist material heritage in Afghanistan while emphasizing the urgent importance of archival transparency, cultural preservation, and responsible custodianship of sacred heritage. Keywords: Hadda, Tope Kelan, Stupa No. 10, Tepe Maranjan, Gandhara, Buddhist Relics, Tooth Relics, Charles Masson, Byzantine Coinage, Sasanian Coinage, Archaeological Heritage, Chain of Custody, IRCM.