Precious Afghanistan heritage reclaimed

It’s a tale with the lot: war and destruction, brave heroes, buried treasure. Best of all, there’s a happy ending.

This is a story about a country most of us have written off as ruined, one so ravaged by three decades of occupation, bombing and civil war that none of us would consider for a moment visiting as a tourist nor, most likely, contemplate the possibility of a rich cultural heritage and precious artefacts.

Afghanistan – once a vital trading hub on the legendary Silk Road, a land Venetian explorer Marco Polo wrote of as rich with gold and gems – now stars on the television news as a scene of destruction. But it is also the subject of an extensive exhibition at the Melbourne Museum, one featuring golden artefacts so priceless the Australian government is paying the insurance bill and its value is a well-kept secret.

It is a superbly presented exhibition, curated by a man with his own astonishing story to tell about the rediscovery of these treasures: archaeologist Fredrik Hiebert, a National Geographic Fellow. The collection is showcased in an innovative display created in Melbourne.

After an eight-minute introductory National Geographic film telling the amazing story of the treasures, visitors are funnelled into an area setting the scene: not only is there an illustrated timeline and a map showing the network of routes linking cities, trading posts and watering holes that comprised the Silk Road, there are spectacular National Geographic photographs of Afghanistan as you have never seen it.