SAEDNEWS: The Vakhsh Treasure, found near Tajikistan’s Vakhsh River, includes 180 gold objects and 200 coins, featuring golden chariots, griffin armlets, and lion-hunt sword sheaths. It is now in the British Museum.
According to the History and Culture Service of Saed News, the original location of this collection—where it was actually discovered—the identity of its discoverer, and the exact contents of the initial find remain unknown. The treasure is named after the Vakhsh River because it was found near the river, most likely at Takht-e Kovad, a boat station on the river’s northern bank.
The Vakhsh Treasure represents the most significant surviving group of artifacts from what was once one of the Achaemenid Empire’s largest industrial productions in precious metals. The metal objects are believed to date from the 6th to the 4th centuries BCE, while the coins span a broader period. The most likely explanation for its origin is that it belonged to a temple that, over time, served as a repository for votive offerings.
The connection to a temple is supported by the presence of 51 gold-plated votive plaques and several statues resembling figures typically found in sacred sites. The quality of these plaques varies: some show crude workmanship, likely made by the donors themselves, while others are highly refined and appear to have been custom-crafted.
The collection includes armlets, gold rings, two small golden chariots with horses and riders, votive plaques, coins, vases, seals, a fish-shaped perfume container, various personal objects (such as clothing clasps and jewelry), and a gilded sword sheath—one of the oldest pieces, decorated with lion-hunting scenes. Early reports from 1879 also mention other items, including a golden tiger statue, which seems to have disappeared soon after discovery. Many other objects may have been stolen or melted down by the original finders, and some coins and artifacts were reportedly purchased by British soldiers stationed in the area.
Artifacts similar to those in the Vakhsh Treasure appear in Achaemenid art, particularly the stone carvings of Persepolis, and similar finds have emerged from Susa and other locations. For instance, the sword sheath closely resembles those depicted in Persepolis reliefs. Although the creator and exact origin remain uncertain, the pieces are believed to have belonged to the Achaemenid royal family.
Among the treasure’s most famous items are two small golden chariots, one unfinished, drawn by four horses. The chariots feature figures in Median-style attire—one driver and one passenger—and the rear rails allow passengers to mount or dismount. The front is decorated with the image of Bes, the dwarf god of the Egyptians. Two armlets, adorned with griffin heads at each end and crafted in the Achaemenid style of the 4th–5th centuries BCE, are considered highly valuable. Their creation was complex, involving molding from multiple materials, detailed hammering, and soldering. Numerous other armlets in the collection feature animal heads, including goats, bulls, lions, mountain goats, and mythical creatures.
While most pieces are unique, some are true masterpieces:
Griffin Armlets – Though partly damaged, these armlets remain striking. They were once inlaid with enamel and precious stones, many of which are now lost. They likely originated from the Scythian region.
Sword Sheath – Sometimes called a “dagger sheath,” a misnomer due to confusion with the short Iranian sword (akinakes). The sheath depicts a lion hunt, reminiscent of Persepolis reliefs, and may have belonged to one of Darius I’s bodyguards (522–486 BCE).
Golden Fish – This 24.2 cm, 370-gram hollow figure with an open mouth and hanging ring was likely used to hold oil or perfume. Initially described as a carp, fishing expert Adrian Burton identified it in 2016 as a Turkestan golden carp, unique to the Vakhsh River, bearing a closer resemblance to the treasure’s fish motif than common carp.
In 1879, Russian General N.A. Mayev reported discovering the treasure near the historic Takht-e Kovad fortress and spoke with locals, who mentioned a golden tiger that had later been sold to “Indian merchants.” On June 24, 1880, Lahore’s Military and Civil Gazette reported that large amounts of gold had been stolen from Indian merchants in Kabul, Afghanistan. Captain Francis Charles Burton, a British officer, recovered much of the treasure and returned it to the merchants, who sold him one set of armlets.
This drew the attention of British officers, particularly Sir Alexander Cunningham (1814–1893), then assigned as India’s archaeological surveyor. Cunningham purchased several items, while the remaining treasure was acquired by British antiquarian Sir A.W. Franks (1826–1897), who later bought Cunningham’s collection and donated the entire hoard to the British Museum, where he served as director.
