Afghan mine clearers rescue artifacts
BAMIYAN, Afghanistan — On a rocky hillside in central Afghanistan, men in visored helmets and protective blue smocks gently scratch the earth for land mines — or shards of pottery from the sixth century. Afghanistan is one of the most heavily mined countries in the world. But this valley presents a challenge to deminers because of its history, from Silk Road traders to Buddhists who carved towering statues destroyed by the Taliban. So deminers here double as amateur archaeologists, protecting the dirt as well as the people who will walk on it. Rather than exploding mines in the ground, the deminers ease them out gently with a strap around the explosive. And they spend as much time excavating bits of pottery or rusted jewelry as mines. On the hilltop sits a sixth-century citadel called Shahr-i-Ghulghula that archaeologists say... [read full story]
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Afghan mine clearers rescue artifacts
On a rocky hillside in central Afghanistan, men in visored helmets and protective blue smocks gently scratch the earth for land mines _ or shards of pottery from the sixth century. Afghanistan is one of the most heavily mined...
Afghan mine clearers rescue artifacts
BAMIYAN, Afghanistan (AP) - On a rocky hillside in central Afghanistan, men in visored helmets and protective blue smocks gently scratch the earth for land mines _ or shards of pottery from the sixth century. Afghanistan is one...
Afghan Mine Clearers Rescue Artifacts
Saving The Past And The Future: Afghans Remove Artifacts Along With Mines (AP) On a rocky hillside in central Afghanistan, men in visored helmets and protective blue smocks gently scratch the earth for land mines _ or shards of...
Afghan mine clearers rescue artifacts
BAMIYAN, Afghanistan (AP) - On a rocky hillside in central Afghanistan, men in visored helmets and protective blue smocks gently scratch the earth for land mines _ or shards of pottery from the sixth century.
Afghan mine clearers rescue artifacts
By HEIDI VOGT - Associated Press Writer On a rocky hillside in central Afghanistan, men in visored helmets and protective blue smocks gently scratch the earth for land mines - or shards of pottery from the sixth century....
Afghan mine clearers rescue artifacts
BAMIYAN, Afghanistan -- On a rocky hillside in central Afghanistan, men in visored helmets and protective blue smocks gently scratch the earth for land mines - or shards of pottery from the sixth century. Afghanistan is one of...
Afghan mine clearers rescue artifacts
BAMIYAN, Afghanistan On a rocky hillside in central Afghanistan, men in visored helmets and protective blue smocks gently scratch the earth for land mines - or shards of pottery from the sixth century. Afghanistan is one of the...
Afghan mine clearers rescue artifacts
On a rocky hillside in central Afghanistan, men in visored helmets and protective blue smocks gently scratch the earth for land mines -- or shards of pottery from the sixth century. Afghanistan is one of the most heavily mined...
Afghan mine clearers rescue artifacts
By Heidi Vogt Associated Press Writer / July 4, 2009 BAMIYAN, Afghanistan—On a rocky hillside in central Afghanistan, men in visored helmets and protective blue smocks gently scratch the earth for land mines -- or shards of...