Afghanistan’s rich, two-hundred-thousand-year-old civilization is showcased in museums worldwide, notably the National Museum of Afghanistan in Kabul, founded in 1919. Initially housing a modest collection, the museum expanded significantly following a 1923 constitutional mandate for historical preservation. Despite early challenges of looting and smuggling due to a lack of expertise, a 1922 Franco-Afghan excavation agreement brought many treasures to the museum, leading to collaborations with international archaeological teams.

By 1992, the National Museum of Afghanistan safeguarded over one hundred thousand artifacts from various archaeological sites. The civil war and Taliban era, however, resulted in the loss of seventy-five percent of its holdings. Staff members saved many artifacts, including the Bactrian Gold treasures, hidden and later revealed in 2003. Rebuilt in 2004 with international support, the museum undertook extensive documentation and restoration efforts. From 2008 to 2021, Abdul Basir Kamjo (my husband) and I served as curators, organizing exhibitions and capacity-building workshops. After leaving Afghanistan in 2021, we relocated to the United States with support from the Harvard Art Museums and the Harvard Scholar Risk program. In 2022, we began cataloging early Buddhist sculptures from Afghanistan for a digital publication.

Researcher Bio:

Born on February 21, 1984, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Nasrin Belali earned her bachelor’s degree in Archaeology from Kabul University in 2007. She began her career at the National Museum of Afghanistan in 2008, serving in various departments, including the Department of Islamic and Museology. As curator of the Bronze Age collection, she managed 5,000 artifacts until August 15, 2021. Nasrin participated in workshops at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Vienna University, and in the United States, and organized national and international exhibitions. She compiled a database of over 800 artifacts and managed internal museum programs for nearly a decade. Nasrin was the first curator in Afghanistan to oversee a large Bronze Age collection and the first female on the Afghanistan Archaeological Committee. Despite her dismissal by the Taliban, she remains committed to preserving Afghanistan’s cultural heritage. Since September 2022, she has served as a Consultative Curator in the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at Harvard Art Museums.