The Tangir Valley is approached through a newly constructed bridge from the main Karakoram Highway. During the exploration in the Tangir Valley were located structural remains at three different places called Shimari, Diamir and Ser kot. At all the three sites were found structural remains of late Buddhist period settlements stretching over a wide area. The standing walls, of course, without roofs at present are of rubble masonry. During surface collection from all the three sites, it become evident that these settlements belong to those Buddhist, who are forced out of the main Diamir Valleys and receded in to the side valley. There are many current about these remains and the people who inhabited in lived in them. The pottery collected from these ruins suggests a probable date of between 12th and 13th century AD. This is the period when Islam takes over in Swat. Therefore, the remains at Ser Kot, Diamir Kot, and Shigli Kot can easily be assigned to the latest Buddhist period of this area.
It is said that in the early 13th
century AD.Sayyed Mushar Ali who came in the valley and preached Islam and
converted the inhabitants to the new faith. They maintain that the converted
were such zealous and devoted Muslim that they even abandoned their old
dwellings and considered it a sin to live in those houses. Even now the
Tangiris do not dare go in to these ruins, but treasure hunters from Swat and
Peshawar started illegal diggings in search of berries treasure. On the way up
to Chilas several caves in rather soft sediments can be seen near the road
beyond Harban. Some of them are used temporary stables. The area around the
mouth of the Thor-Gah is very rich in petroglyphs. Shortly after entering of the
valley they were concentrated along a path ascending the eastern slope to a
plateau newly used for a large field. Excavation should start here as it would
have been an excellent place for a religious building.
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