Tales from the Wakhan : folkore and archaeology of the Wakhan corridor / Andy Miller.

Summary: “The Wakhan corridor, lying between the high peaks of the Hindu Kush and the Pamir Mountains, represents one of the more remote and least visited regions of Afghanistan. A significant crossing point through the mountain of central Asia, it has been traversed over the millennia by Palaeolithic hunter-gatherers, nomads, Buddhist pilgrims and European explorers. Throughout the middle ages it was a key part of the silk road trade network linking China and Europe. ‘tales from the Wakhan’ highlights aspects of the region’s rich social and cultural heritage by presenting a selection of archaeological sites, complemented with folk tales recorded in the villages of the Wakhan. The historic sites include petroglyphs, ruined fortresses, place of worship and burial monuments. The folk tales were collected as part of an oral testimony project looking to record stories and legends from the Wakhan, particularly those related to the customs and belief system of the Wakhi and Kyrgyz people. They include myths such as ‘The Shy Wizard of Ishkashim’ and The old man of Baba Tangi’. Practical information including maps are provided to enable the more adventurous traveler to visit both the historic sites and settlements mentioned in the folk tales throughout this breathtaking region of Afghanistan”.

“A survey of the archaeological and architectural sites in the Wakhan was undertaken by the Aga Khan trust for culture (AKTC) in 2007. The oral testimony project which collected the folk tales was undertaken in 2008 by the Aga Khan foundation (AKF) with the support of and represents part of their continuing commitment to the promotion of sustainable cultural tourism in Afghanistan”.