ABSTRACT
This research paper investigates the animal beads in Taxila Museum and attempts to trace their significance in the belief system of ancient Gandhara region. Amongst the artefacts found from Taxila, beads are the most commonly found antiquities. The present researchers, thus, felt it necessary to study the neglected aspect of beads’ study in the perspective of religious practices in this cultural region. The subject is presented in four parts: the first part of introduction, explains the geographical and historical background of Taxila; the second part describes the classification based on material, art, techniques, and diversity of zoomorphic depictions; third part discusses the symbolic religious significance; while the fourth part is added as the inventory of beads; which leads towards the conclusion of this study. The discussion is aided with figures attached at the end of this paper.
