Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul
October 24, 2008– January 25, 2009
Lee, Hambrecht, Osher Galleries
In 1978, on windswept plains of northern Afghanistan, archaeologists unearthed tombs of ancient nomads that had been sealed for two thousand years and discovered an extraordinary trove: some 22,000 individual pieces of gold buried with the remains of six Bactrian Central Asian nomads. Within months of this discovery at Tillya Tepe, the country descended into war, and the so-called Bactrian Hoard disappeared into legend once more. Twenty-five years later, in 2003, Afghanistan surprised the world by announcing that the priceless artifacts had been located intact in the presidential palace bank vault in Kabul. They had been rescued, along with other masterpieces of the National Museum, Kabul, and protected in the intervening years of turmoil by a group of selfless Afghan heroes who have come to be known as “the key holders.”
Strategically located on the commercial routes between China and India in the east and Europe in the west, Afghanistan was at the crossroads of civilizations in Central Asia. Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul explores the rich cultural heritage of ancient Afghanistan from the Bronze Age (2500 BCE) through the rise of trade along the Silk Road in the first century CE.
Drawn mainly from three archaeological sites, the exhibition features nearly 230 artworks, including gold objects from the famed Bactrian Hoard, bronze and stone sculptures, ivories, painted glassware, and other ancient Afghan works of art.
The museum will present a variety of programs inspired by the exhibition, including performances, family activities, lectures, and talks. See the full schedule.
Catalogue
Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures is the official companion book to the exhibition, published by the National Geographic Society and edited by Fredrik Heibert and Pierre Cambon. This gorgeously photographed and lavish volume focuses not only on the cultural significance of the artworks in the exhibition but also relays the story of their discovery, excavation, and heroic rescue in modern-day Afghanistan. Paperback copies are available at the Asian Art Museum store for $30.00. To order, call (415) 581-3602 or email shop@asianart.org.
304 pages, 10'' x 10'', 300 color photographs.
TIckets
General Admission Tickets
Afghanistan is free with general museum admission. However, due to the anticipated popularity of the exhibition, we will be using a timed entry system. As such, Afghanistan tickets will be sold for specific dates and times during the run of the exhibition. Advance purchase of timed tickets is highly recommended. Tickets can be purchased online through museumtix.com with a service charge of up to $2.25 per ticket. Tickets can be picked up at Will Call the day of your visit. Advance and day-of tickets are also available at the museum with no processing fee, subject to availability. Learn more about visiting the museum.
Museum admission is free on the first Sunday of each month, courtesy of Target. Admission is on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to capacity restrictions, admission is not guaranteed. Please note that online reservations for member tickets are not available on Target First Free Sundays.
Tours
Docent Tours
Offered daily, October 24 through January 25, except on the first Sunday of each month
10:30 am, 12:30 pm, 1:30 pm
FREE with museum admission
Tour schedules subject to change
Join a guided tour of the exhibition led by the museum’s highly trained docents. All tours assemble at the information desk on the ground floor.
Private Group Tours
Groups of 10 or more can reserve private tours of the exhibition with our knowledgeable docents for a modest fee. Private tours are available October 28, 2008, through January 25, 2009, with the exception of the first Sunday of each month. Reservations must be made at least one month in advance. Read more about group tours, or call (415) 581-3624, or email groupvisits@asianart.org for more information.
Audio Tour
A self-guided audio tour of the exhibition is available for rental for $3.00 per tour ($2.00 for Asian Art Museum members).
Narrated in English by Gallery director Earl A. Powell III, with commentary by Fredrik T. Hiebert, National Geographic Society; Sanjyot Mehendale, University of California, Berkeley; and archaeologist Paul Bernard, Paris, France.
Hotel package
Golden Treasures of Afghanistan
The Fairmont San Francisco is delighted to offer guests the opportunity to discover Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul at the Asian Art Museum, with renowned archaeologist Dr. Fred Hiebert providing an insider’s perspective about the amazing objects within this exhibit and a glimpse into the world of a real-life Indiana Jones.
The Golden Treasures of Afghanistan package includes:
A one-night stay in a luxurious guest room at the landmark hotel
Two tickets to the museum to see the exhibition
Access to an exclusive podcast featuring archaeologist Dr. Fred Hiebert and his unique insight into this exceptional exhibit
A traditional Afghan treat of baklava and Turkish coffee for two
A set of notecards commemorating the exhibition
This one-of-a-kind package is available October 24, 2008, through January 25, 2009, starting at $299 plus tax per night, based on availability. For more information or reservations, please call 1-800-441-1414 or visit www.fairmont.com.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. This exhibition is supported by a generous grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities Chairman's Special Award and an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities.
Presentation at the Asian Art Museum is made possible by the Bernard Osher Foundation, the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation, and Carmen M. Christensen.
All of the works are from the National Museum of Afghanistan and are the sole property of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
In 1978, on windswept plains of northern Afghanistan, archaeologists unearthed tombs of ancient nomads that had been sealed for two thousand years and discovered an extraordinary trove: some 22,000 individual pieces of gold buried with the remains of six Bactrian Central Asian nomads. Within months of this discovery at Tillya Tepe, the country descended into war, and the so-called Bactrian Hoard disappeared into legend once more. Twenty-five years later, in 2003, Afghanistan surprised the world by announcing that the priceless artifacts had been located intact in the presidential palace bank vault in Kabul. They had been rescued, along with other masterpieces of the National Museum, Kabul, and protected in the intervening years of turmoil by a group of selfless Afghan heroes who have come to be known as “the key holders.” 
