Bhuddhist sculptures found near Jellalabad, 1879 (c)

Photograph by Quarter Master Sergeant White, 2nd Afghan War (1878-1880), 1879 (c).

As the British advanced into Afghanistan they came across many ancient ruins and pieces of sculpture, evidence of the country's rich Buddhist past. The religion was introduced to Afghanistan by the Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BC and by the 1st century BC it was the dominant faith. It continued to flourish under the Kushan and Gandharan rulers until the Islamic conquests of the 11th century.

From an album of 46 photographs by QMS White, 1878-1879.