The 'Bones of the Buddha' found (PBS)

Secrets of the Dead: Bones of the Buddha (full documentary of Willy Peppe's find, HD)

• The Buddha did not have a "tomb" but rather various stupa mound sites that served as repositories of his cremation ashes and relics divided among the major rulers of his day.

Bones of the Buddha (S12, E6) premiered July 23, 2013 (NR) The mystery surrounding the bones [actually the cremation remains and relics or Śarīra] of the Buddha dates back more than 100 years ago, when British colonial estate manager William Peppe set his workers to the task of digging up a mysterious "hill" (actually an ancient, buried stupa) in Northern India. Peppe had no idea what they would find a little more than 20 feet below the surface. They unearthed an astonishing discovery: a huge stone coffer, containing five reliquary jars (urns) and more than 1,000 separate jewels and gold and silver ornaments.

Gandharan Buddhist (Greco-Buddhist) art

PBS is dedicating a full evening to the Buddha [in the summer of 2013], anchored by an intriguing new Secrets of the Dead episode called "Bones of the Buddha."

This documentary presents a convincing collection of evidence that suggests an amateur archeologist discovered a portion [1/8th] of the historical Buddha’s sacred relics more than a century ago.

Bones of the Buddha first aired Tuesday, July 23, 2013, 10:00-11:00 pm (ET) on PBS (check local listings).

Preceding Bones of the Buddha is a rebroadcast of The Buddha, acclaimed filmmaker David Grubin’s documentary about a royal [Central Asian] prince who fled the opulence of the palace more than 2,500 years ago.

Journeying on his quest for enlightenment for six years, he witnessed human suffering for the first time and had a great awakening, that eventually led to the establishing of a new religion, Buddhism.

American Buddhist Richard Gere narrates the two-hour film airing Tuesday July 23, 2023, 8:00-10:00 pm (ET) on PBS (check local listings).

The mystery surrounding the bones (cremation remains) of the Buddha dates back more than 100 years ago, when British colonial estate manager William (Willie) Peppe and his workers began digging at a mysterious hill in Northern India.

• The Piprahwa Gems: A Four Generation Story of Custodianship | Sotheby's Maison, Hong Kong | Sotheby’s

Burned bone fragments survived cremation?

Peppe had no idea what they would find just a little more than 20 feet below ground.  They unearthed a stupa that contained an astonishing discovery: a huge stone coffer, containing five reliquary jars and more than 1,000 separate jewels – carved semi-precious stones and gold and silver objects – and some ash and bone.

One of the jars bore a Sanskrit inscription which, when translated, stated the jar contained the remains of the historical Buddha himself.

Doubt and rumors of forgery have overshadowed this remarkable find, dividing Buddhist scholars for more than 100 years. Many believe the whole thing could be an elaborate hoax. Others insist the burial mound on Peppe’s estate is one of the final resting places of the leader of one of the world’s great religions, a [Scythian, Indo-Sakan] sage who died attained final-nirvana and passed away nearly 2,600 years ago.

For doubters, suspicion focuses on a key figure from the time, disgraced forgerer German archeologist Dr. Anton Führer.

Renowned historian Charles Allen sets out to solve this extraordinary mystery once and for all.  Is the little-known monument in Northern India really the Buddha’s burial mound enshrining his relics in a coffer tomb? Is this find genuine?  And if it is, who created it and when?

Allen begins his journey in England at the home of Neil Peppe, the grandson of William Peppe. From there he travels 4,000 miles to Birdpore House in India, built by the Peppe family in the 1840s.

Precious artifacts (Bones of the Buddha | PBS)

The mysterious hill known as Piprahwa where the tomb was found sits on the northern edge of the Birdpore estate.

Allen traces Peppe’s steps to authenticate the find, uncovering how the discovery became shrouded in scandal and where the Piprahwa ashes and bones reside today.

• Behind the Scenes GALLERY | Bones of the Buddha | PBS

Photo of Brahmi script inscription (PBS)

But is the inscription on the jar stating “these are the relics of the Buddha – the Lord [Bhagwan]” genuine?

Allen meets with Prof. Harry Falk at Germany’s oldest institute of Indology, the world’s leading authority on ancient Indian languages, to authenticate the ancient Brahmi script.

Though Falk’s findings may finally clear William Peppe’s name and resolve the mystery surrounding his find, Allen must still unravel who built the mound and buried the remains of the Buddha with a treasure of artifacts 2,600 year ago.

• Gandhāran Buddhist texts: The Schøyen Collection includes fragments of canonical sutras, Abhidharma, Vinaya, and Mahāyāna texts, most manuscripts written in Brahmi (Indic) scripts, while a small portion is written in Gandhāri/Kharoṣṭhī script.

Bones of the Buddha is an Icon Films Production for THIRTEEN in association with WNET, ARTE France, and National Geographic Channels. Executive producer for Icon Films is Harry Marshall. Executive in charge for WNET is Stephen Segaller. Executive producer for WNET is Steve Burns.  Coordinating producer for WNET is Stephanie Carter.

• Bones of the Buddha | Episode | Secrets of the Dead | PBS