The Integrated Relic Custodianship Model (IRCM): Bimaran Stupa No. 2 (ARCH-2026-0002)

This institutional case study examines the archaeological, historical, and custodial significance of the Bimaran Stupa No. 2 relic deposit, one of the most important Buddhist reliquary discoveries from the ancient Gandhāran cultural sphere. Excavated between 1833 and 1838 by Charles Masson in the Jalalabad region of present-day Afghanistan, the site yielded the celebrated Bimaran Gold Reliquary together with tradition-associated tooth and bone relics and a series of Indo-Scythian coin deposits attributed to Azes II, Kharahostes, or Mujatria. The primary objective of this study is to reconstruct the historical provenance, archaeological context, and chain of custody of the Bimaran deposit through the Integrated Relic Custodianship Model (IRCM). Using a multi-disciplinary methodology combining archaeological reports, museum archives, numismatic analysis, epigraphic evidence, historiographical review, and institutional registry documentation, the research evaluates both the strengths and limitations of the surviving evidence. The findings indicate that the Bimaran deposit represents a highly formalized reliquary installation established within the Indo-Scythian–Early Kushan cultural horizon. The surviving gold repoussé reliquary, currently preserved in the British Museum, provides exceptional evidence for the early development of Buddhist devotional art and relic veneration. Numismatic evidence associated with the deposit continues to play a central role in scholarly debates concerning the chronology of Gandhāran Buddhism and the emergence of anthropomorphic Buddha imagery. A critical aspect of the case concerns the disappearance of the biological relics formerly associated with the deposit. Archival evidence suggests that while the reliquary entered British institutional collections during the nineteenth century, the associated tooth and bone relics remained in Afghanistan and were subsequently lost during periods of political instability and museum destruction. As a result, the continuity of the biological relics cannot presently be verified. The study therefore distinguishes carefully between evidence, interpretation, and hypothesis. Archaeological documentation, museum records, and numismatic data strongly support the existence of the original deposit and its historical significance. However, no claim is made regarding absolute biological authentication of the missing relics. Instead, the research emphasizes historical continuity, custodial documentation, and heritage preservation. The publication records the traditional Theravāda doctrinal perspective concerning relic autonomy, Adhiṭṭhāna (Resolution), Abhiññā (Higher Knowledge), and Dhātu-pāṭihāriya (Miraculous Relic Manifestation), while maintaining a clear methodological distinction between archaeological evidence and religious interpretation. The Bimaran case illustrates both the extraordinary achievements of ancient Buddhist relic custodianship and the vulnerability of cultural heritage during periods of conflict. The study advocates for transparent documentation, responsible stewardship, and international cooperation in preserving the surviving records of Buddhist material heritage for future generations. Keywords: Bimaran Stupa No. 2, Bimaran Reliquary, Gandhāra, Mujatria, Kharahostes, Charles Masson, Buddhist Relics, Tooth Relics, Chain of Custody, Numismatics, Kharoṣṭhī Inscriptions, Museum Archives, Cultural Heritage Preservation, Integrated Relic Custodianship Model (IRCM).