From the very beginning the long – term programme „Archaeological – heritage mission in Ghor province, Afghanistan, 2007 – 2010” is carried out in separate phases and by projects with specific executions dates. Lectures in different institutions and at conferences, articles and interviews with project managers in the media supplement the project. High-recognition was also given to the multiplanned exhibition “Newly Discovered Ancient Arianna” at the gallery of Lithuanian National Commission for UNESCO in Vilnius, as well as exhibition opened in Embassy of Republic of Lithuania in Warsaw (Poland) and in Lithuanian Republic Parliament. This exhibition was opened in gymnasium of Adolfas Sapoka in Utena on 24th of November. As the gallery of the gymnasiums is open to the public exhibition might be visited not only by the student of this school. Exhibition is already widely visited.
Lithuanian society gets more and more information about Ghor province in Afghanistan and about projects held in there by the Republic of Lithuania. Different educational institutions from Utena town showed their interests in works in Ghor province of Lithuanian archaeologists. Leader of the program Daiva Luchtaniene held a lesson “Unknown Ghor province” for the pupils of elder classes on 22nd of May. Scientific leader of the project held a lecture “Arianna – different Afghanistan” for history teachers and students as well in the same gymnasium. Opening of the exhibition “Newly Discovered Ancient Arianna” and the lecture were connected to final forum of the project implemented by the gymnasium “Good knowledge of past and knowledge of present – the way to the future”.
Exhibition is open till 15th of January, 2010 in gymnasium of Adolfas Sapoka in Utena. You all are welcome!

On the 20th of October 2009 Lithuanian archaeologists completed educational heritage mission in Afghanistan. Not all aims of the project “Archaeological – heritage mission in Afghanistan, Ghor province in 2007 – 2010” could be completed. Searches and registering of the archaeological objects were forbidden by soldiers. And this is the reason why Lithuanian archeologists were doing only educational work. Training courses – lectures about archaeological and historical monuments on cognitive and protection issues were organized in Chaghcharan. Listeners of the lectures represented eight different institutions of Chaghcharan. Archaeological heritage of Afghanistan, history of researches and archaeological heritage of Ghor province were introduced to the audience. Archaeological artifacts found in Ghor were presented as well. Damage made to archaeological objects was also discussed. At the final lecture there was a discussion about the protection and preservation of archaeological heritage. Topic about the illegal excavations and their prevention was emphasized. Lithuanian archaeologists gathered a lot of information on unknown and not visited yet archaeological objects from locals. This data will be used later while continuing works with the Register of archaeological heritage monuments. Training courses – lectures “Introduction of the Archeological and Historical Monuments and Their Preservation in Ghor province” were ended by the formal closure. It was attended by vice governor of Ghor province Mullah Karamudin Razazada, commander of PRT – 9 Col. Alvydas Šiuparis, representatives of various non- governmental organizations, journalists. All the listeners of lectures were awarded by certificates of completion the courses. Educational activities of Lithuanian archaeologists in Ghor province were aligned with the Ministry of Information and Culture of Afghanistan. During the formal meeting Minister of Culture expressed a wish that Lithuanian archaeologists would read lectures about archaeological cultural heritage to the specialists in Kabul. On the 20th of October prof. A.Luchtanas gave a lecture “Archaeology of Ghor province in the context of whole Afghanistan” in Timurshah mausoleum. About 30 specialists from the Department of Preservation and Restoration of Historical Monuments of Afghanistan, Archaeological Institute, National Museum of Kabul and the Ministry of Information and Culture heard the lesson.
On the 22nd of October three Lithuanian archaeologists Daiva Luchtanienė, Inga Martišauskytė and Aleksas Luchtanas came back to Lithuania after completing the mission. This activity of archaeologists is a constituent part of the long-term programme “Archaeological – Heritage Mission in Ghor Province, Afghanistan, 2007-2010” by Lithuanian development cooperation. The programme is financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Lithuania. The programme is carried out by the Archaeological Projects Centre ANTIQUA. The partners of the project are the Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of Lithuania and Vilnius University.

On the 27th of September – 3rd of October in the capital of Afghanistan in Kabul Polytechnic University the “Second International Hindu Kush conference” was held. It was attended by scientists from USA, Czech Republic, Lithuania and Afghanistan. Reports read on the conference touched Afghans geological issues, water recourse and sanitation problems, themes of minerals as well as problems of human and natural threats. Speeches of Minister of Mines, Rector of the Polytechnic University of Kabul Ezatul Ahmed and Rector of Kabul University Hamidul Amin opened the conference. Lithuanian archaeologists presented archaeological heritage of Ghor province. Heritage was unknown to the world until the very first Lithuanian archaeological expedition in 2007. During the conference made a presentation “Archaeological – heritage mission in Afghanistan, Ghor province”. On the third day of the conference there was shown a cognitive film “Ghor province from the point of view of a woman archaeologist” (2008) created on the basis of video material made by Lithuanian archaeologists. Both the presentation and the film attracted and got interested in the audience. Afghans thanked archaeologist for their heritage and educational activities in Ghor province, for spreading the knowledge about people, their customs and nature in Ghor province.
On the 6th – 17th of October archaeologists will have educational purposes in Ghor province. There will be held educational courses on the topics of recognizing the archaeological and historical monuments and their preservation. Courses will be held for staff of the Department of Culture, history teachers, workers and managers of companies which are active in land works, policemen. By knowing archeological and historical heritage the sense of pride of their nation, rich past of the culture can be developed. Knowing archaeological objects is useful for those who do land work so the archaeological monuments wouldn`t be damaged.
This activity of archaeologists is a constituent part of the long-term programme “Archaeological – Heritage Mission in Ghor Province, Afghanistan, 2007-2010” by Lithuanian development cooperation. The programme is financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Lithuania. The programme is carried out by the Archaeological Projects Centre ANTIQUA. The partners of the project are the Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of Lithuania and Vilnius University.

The long – term programme “Archaeological – heritage mission in Ghor province, Afghanistan 2007 – 2010” approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania and the Department of Development cooperation and democracy promotion is continued in 2009. On 23rd of September three Lithuanian archaeologists Daiva Luchtanienė, Aleksas Luchtanas and Inga Martišauskytė leaves to Afghanistan. On 27th of September – 3rd of October scientists will participate in international Hindu Kush conference in Kabul. During the conference dr. Aleksas Luchtanas will give a report “Archaeological – heritage mission in Afghanistan, Ghor province”. In October the project promoters will have a work visit to Chaghcharan. During the visit 8 lectures – practical exercises for workers of local cultural, educational institutions and department whose activities are related to land works will be held. Earlier activities of two past expeditions (2007 and 2008) are already delivering tangible positive results. Locals bring archaeological finds to the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) base asking them to forward finds to the Lithuanian archaeologist for the scientific analysis.
The long – term programme “Archaeological – heritage mission in Afghanistan, Ghor province in 2007 – 2010” is a constituent part of Lithuania`s development cooperation programme in Afghanistan, Ghor province. The programme is carried out by the Archaeological Projects Centre ANTIQUA. The partners of the project are the Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of Lithuania and Vilnius University.

On 21st of September, 2009 at 05.00 pm Multiplan exhibition “Newly discovered ancient Aryana” is opened in the Centre of Lithuania to the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania (av. Ujazdowskie, 12, Warsaw). The exhibition will be opened by the Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania Egidijus Meiliūnas and the Consul of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Hatif Hashemi. This exhibition is grounded on the visual material of two past expeditions of Lithuanian archaeologists to Afghanistan, Ghor province. This is the dissemination of results of long-term Development cooperation programme “Archaeological – heritage mission in Afghanistan, Ghor province in 2007 – 2010”. At the same time this multiplan exhibition reveals the use of Development cooperation projects to the Ghor province and the province Lithuania is taking care of. The exhibition “Newly discovered ancient Aryana” was presented to the general public on 15th of April – 15th of May in UNESCO Commissions hall in Vilnius. Exhibition is a constituent part of a long – term programme “Archaeological – heritage mission in Afghanistan, Ghor province in 2007 – 2010”. The programme is financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Lithuania. The programme is carried out by the Archaeological Projects Centre ANTIQUA.