Iconography and Uses of Skin in the Buddhist Art of Ancient Uḍḍiyāna

Abstract

The use of animal skin was a vital part of material culture in ancient Uḍḍiyāna (Swat Valley), from the earliest times through the Buddhist era and into subsequent periods. Animal skin was widely used for various domestic and utilitarian purposes, reflecting its integral role in everyday life. Historical and ethnographic sources, along with archaeological evidence, suggest that animal skin was used for multiple purposes, ranging from clothing and footwear to the crafting of musical instruments, woven furniture such as charpoys and chairs, sieve, bags and sitting mats. Due to its perishable nature, animal skin is rarely preserved in the archaeological record; however, its use is subtly yet meaningfully conveyed in Buddhist narrative relief panels recovered in scientific excavations. This paper aims to undertake a visual and contextual analysis of such reliefs to identify depictions of items believed to be made from animal skin. By comparing these depictions with later ethnographic practices, this study traces cultural continuity and change in household use and technology. The study highlights the domestic life, cultural practices and material choices of ancient communities, while drawing attention to the symbolic and functional role of organic materials often overlooked in art historical discourse due to their perishability. Through an interdisciplinary approach combining art history, archaeology and ethnography, this paper examines how the humble, yet versatile animal skin shaped the tangible and intangible heritage of the Swat Valley."