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Subsequent generations of archaeologists took up the categories established by DAFA in the 1920s. By the 1970s Afghan heritage's "greatest hits" were known around the world. The Kabul Museum boasted among the world's best collections of Central Asian art and, largely based upon the draw of sites like Bamiyan, the country was fast becoming a popular tourist destination. There were teams of archaeologists from at least six nations working in Afghanistan right before the Soviet invasion in 1979. These expeditions came to an abrupt halt during the ensuing war. But the distinct appreciation for Afghan art that DAFA first cultivated survives today, perpetuated by such organizations as the Swiss Afghanistan Institute (founded in 1975) and the Society for the Preservation of Afghanistan's Cultural Heritage (founded in 1994), both of which were key players in the push to save Afghanistan's "world heritage." |