5th century Buddha statue discovered in kabul

Afghan archaeologists have discovered an ancient statue of Buddha in the capital Kabul that is likely to date from around the fifth century, the culture ministry has said. The statue, found at the site of a pre-Islamic temple in April but only made public this week, was intact from the upper arms downwards but its head was missing, deputy culture minister Mohammed Zia Afshar said. It is likely from the fifth or sixth century but this had not been established, added Zafar Faiman, a research official at the site at Naranj Hill south of Kabul. The statue is of the height of a normal man, he said.