Ajina Tepe Sculptures

TAJIKISTAN, Khatlon

These sculptures were unearthed from the ruins of Ajina Tepe in Tajikistan. The head of the Buddha displays almost child-like features and the hair is arranged in snail shell curls. The forehead is exceptionally wide and smooth. Traces of black, red and white paint can still be found in some parts of the features.
The head of the monk is a realistically portrayed with wrinkled and creased features. The top of the head is smooth, as if shaven, with protrusions that scholars believe might represent some type of head covering. The chin is dimpled and the earlobes show evidence of having once worn jewelry. Experts believe that the face may have been colored yellow, the eyebrows black, while other features were painted red.