Mehrgarh was an ancient settlement in South Asia and is one
of the most important sites in archaeology for the study of the
earliest neolithic settlements in that region. The remains are
located in Balochistan, Pakistan on the Kachi plain [2] near the
Bolan Pass[?], to the west of the Indus River valley and between
the present-day cities of Quetta, Kalat and Sibi[?],
Mehrgarh is sometimes cited as the earliest known farming settlement in
South Asia, based on archaeological excavations
from 1974 (Jarrige et al). The earliest evidence of settlement dates
from 7000 BC. It's also cited for the earliest evidence of
pottery in South Asia. Archaeologists divide the occupation
at the site into several periods.
Mehrgarh Period I 7000-5500 BC, was neolithic and aceramic (i.e.,
without the use of pottery). The earliest farming in the area was
developed by semi-nomadic people using plants such as wheat and
barley and animals such as sheep, goat and cattle.
The settlement was established with simple mud buildings with four
internal subdivisions. Numerous burials have been found, many with
elaborate goods such as baskets, stone and bone tools, beads, bangles,
pendants and occasionally animal sacrifices, with more goods left with
burials of males. Ornaments of sea shell, limestone,
turquoise, lapis lazuli, sandstone and polished copper
have been found, along with simple figurines of women and animals.
Mehrgarh Period II 5500-4800 BC and Merhgarh Period III 4800-3500 BC
were ceramic neolithic (i.e., pottery was now in use) and later
chalcolithic. Much evidence of manufacturing activity has been
found and more advanced techniques were used. Glazed faience[?] beads
were produced and terracotta figurines became more detailed. Figurines of
females were decorated with paint and had diverse hairstyles and
ornaments. The amount of burial goods decreased over time, becoming
limited to ornaments and with more goods left with burials of females.
The first button seals were produced from terracotta
and bone and had geometric designs. Technologies included stone and
copper drills, updraft kilns, large pit kilns and copper melting
crucibles.
Mehrgarh Period IV to VI 3500-2800 BC
Mehrgarh VII
The city seems to have been largely abandoned around 2600 - 2000 BC,
which is the time of the Indus Valley Civilisation.
It was reported in 2001 that the inhabitants of Mehrgarh may have practiced
dentistry, with small holes found in the molar teeth from the
remains of two men. It was suggested that the stone drills used to
create beads could have been used (Andrea Cucina, University of Missouri-Columbia).
Notes
- Mehrgarh is easily misspelled as Mehrgahr, Merhgarh or Merhgahr (listed here for the sake of searching).
- Variant spellings are Kachi plain, Kacchi plain, Katchi plain.
Sources and external links
Balochistan Hills - http://bosei.cc.u-tokai.ac.jp/~indus/english/1_1_01.html
Early Developments of Art, Symbol and Technology in the Indus Valley Tradition - http://www.harappa.com/indus3/e1.html
Prehistoric dentistry evidence found - http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_1272000/1272010.stm
