Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures From the National Museum, Kabul July 20, 2008

Some 228 extraordinary artifacts unearthed in modern Afghanistan attest to the region's importance as a vital and ancient crossroads of trade routes known as the Silk Road, which stretched from Asia to the Mediterranean. This exhibition explores the cultural significance of the treasures and illustrates the story of their discovery, excavation, and heroic rescue. Ranging in date from 2200 BC to AD 200, the objects present a rich mosaic of Afghanistan's cultural heritage and are drawn from four archaeological sites. Maps will illustrate the locations of some 1500 archaeological sites, ancient cities, the routes known as the Silk Road, and regions that relate to the artifacts.