Malakand: Thana Gunyar in District Malakand is among the rare sites in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where traces of different civilizations are found in one region.
Modern archaeological research shows Gunyar remained a centre of human activity from pre-Buddhist, Gandhara Buddhist, Hindu Shahi to early Islamic periods. Located on historic routes linking Swat, Dir, Peshawar and Afghanistan, settlements, forts, watch towers and religious sites were built here in different eras.
Pre-Buddhist rock art and ancient graves prove habitation before Buddhism, while in Mauryan, Indo-Greek and Kushan periods it was part of Gandhara civilization.
Buddhist stupas, monasteries and rock carvings have been found around Gunyar. After Alexander’s campaign in 327 BC, Hellenistic influence emerged leading to Gandhara Art, but no large Greek settlement has been archaeologically confirmed in Gunyar.
Similarly, despite Achaemenid influence, no authentic Zoroastrian fire temple has been discovered so far.The most prominent identity of Gunyar is linked with the Hindu Shahi Empire.
A comprehensive survey in Malakand, Swat, Dir and Buner found 225 Hindu Shahi sites, 217 watch towers at 140 locations, one Hindu temple and two ancient wells. Gunyar was a key part of this defence network.
The Gunyar Watch Tower, built between 9th to 11th century AD with dry stone masonry, arrow slits and wooden beams, was used for surveillance and communication.
The claim of its 3000-year age is not supported by evidence; its age is about 1000-1200 years, though older habitations may have existed at the same site.Currently the site faces threats from erosion, illegal digging and lack of official protection.
Experts stress scientific documentation, excavation and legal preservation are inevitable. Gunyar is not just an ancient village but a living museum of Northwestern Pakistan’s history.