Shatial, Archaeological site in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan.
Shatial is an archaeological site along the Indus River banks where rock carvings and inscriptions are etched into sandstone cliffs beside the Karakoram Highway. In total, more than 1000 written records and hundreds of petroglyphs are scattered across the surfaces.
The site formed between the 3rd and 7th centuries as a marking place for merchants and travelers using the major trade routes. This span shows the location was used by visitors over several centuries.
Merchants and pilgrims left their marks through inscriptions and images showing religious scenes and personal messages. These markings reveal the daily lives of people who traveled the ancient trade routes.
The location sits along the Karakoram Highway and is easy to reach for travelers passing through the region. Rest areas and shops are found on site, making a visit convenient during travel.
A merchant named Nanaivandak from Samarkand left one of the longest inscriptions at this location expressing his wish to reunite with his brother. This personal message shows how people once carved their hopes and feelings into stone.
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