 The
ancient site at Kot
Diji was the
forerunner of the
Indus Civilization.
The people of this
site lived about
3000 BC. The remains
consist of two
parts; the citadel
area on high ground,
and outer area.
Located about 22
kilometres south of
Khairpur in the
province of Sindh,
Pakistan. The site
is situated at the
foot of the hills
where a fort was
built by Talpur
ruler Mir Suhrab
(1803-30). This fort
built on the ridge
of a steep narrow
hill is well
preserved.
Prelude to Kot
Diji
Neolithic
Revolution in
Balochistan
The so called
‘Neolithic
Revolution’ took
place around 8500 –
6000 BC in Fertile
Crescent. With the
taming of variety of
animals and
domestication of
wheat and barley man
life style changed
from nomadic to
settled life in
permanent homes.
Being closest to
Iran and
Afghanistan,
Baluchistan was the
first region in
South Asia
influenced by this
revolution. The
earliest evidence of
sedentary lifestyle
in South Asia was
discovered at
Mehrgarh in 1979.
This settlement,
dated 7000BC located
on the west bank of
Bolan River, about
30 kilometres from
the town of Sibi.
Village Culture
(6000-4000BC)
By 4000BC farming
communities spread
further east in
other parts of
Baluchistan and
Lower Sind.
Agricultural
communities settled
in Brahui Hills,
River Zhob Valley
and along Makran
coasts; respectively
represented by Nal
Culture, Zhob
Culture and Kulli
Culture.
These cultures
developed in
different valleys in
isolation to each
other with their own
characteristics. Nal
Culture made red
pottery and
practiced dead
burial, where Kulli
Culture burnt their
dead and made small
boxes of soft stone
with delicately
engraved linear
patterns.
Pre Harappa Towns
(4000-3000 BC)
The development of
these farming
communities in
different parts of
Baluchistan and
Lower Sind,
ultimately led to
urbanization. The
earliest fortified
town to date is
found at Rehman
Dheri, dated 4000BC
in NWFP close to
River Zhob Valley.
Other fortified
towns found to date
are at Amri
(3600-3300BC) and
Kot Diji in Sind and
at Kalibangan
(3000BC), India at
the Hakra River. No
writing were found
at these sites.
Kot Diji Culture.
(3000 BC)
The Pre Harappa site
at Kot Diji consists
of two clearly
defined areas.
Citadel on high
ground for the
elites separated by
a defensive wall
with bastions at
regular intervals.
This area measures
about 500 ft x 350
ft. Outer area, or
the city proper
consisted of houses
of mud bricks on
stone foundations.
Pottery found from
this site have
design with
horizontal and wavy
lines, or loops and
simple triangular
patterns.
Other stuff found
are pots, pans,
storage jars, toy
carts, balls,
bangles, beads,
terracotta figurines
of mother goddess
and animals, bronze
arrowheads. Well
fashioned stone
implements were also
discovered.
The interesting find
at Kot Diji is a toy
cart, which shows
that potter’s wheel
lead to wheels for
bullock carts.
There are evidence
of burning of this
fortified town,
which were also
observed at Amri and
Kalibangan. Burning
of these cities is
still unexplained. |
