Discovered in 1974 by the French archaeological team, the excavations revealed a continuous sequence of occupation and cultural continuity from the start of the settlement till the end. Over the course of history, this region has developed its own unique traditions. Craft activities, development of architecture, and more importantly domestication of plants and animals. The people of Mehrgarh were well ahead of their time- be it their arts and crafts or their overall cultural sophistication. The discovery of Merhgarh placed Pakistan in the forefront in the world of archaeology.

The origin of domestication of plants and animals is considered a significant development in the history of humanity and vital civilizational advancement that thoroughly influenced the social fabric. This fundamental shift from hunter-gatherer lifestyle to agriculture-based society with sedentary life style   is known as the Neolithic revolution. Although the Neolithic Revolution started later in the Indus River Valley than Mesopotamia or Egypt, however, Mehrgarh was one important Neolithic town in the Indus region.

River valley is the most possible location for a civilization or city to exist, and so most of the civilizations emerged and flourished on the banks of the rivers. Like the Nile in the Tigris and Euphrates, the Bolan River made life possible in the Mehrgarh town and surrounding areas in this otherwise arid desert environment.  People living in this area get their water supplies from rivers and streams that flow in the mountains, which in turn, contributed immensely towards the earliest agriculture and farming.

Mehrgarian were well advanced in metalworking techniques and pottery known for its beauty and high quality of craftsmanship which provide a glimpse into a world of fantasy and imagination. Some of the artifacts such as beads, bangles, wheel-turned pottery, sophisticated ceramic work as well as different kinds of tools and ornaments with intricate design and patterns discovered during the excavation left the world of archaeology in awe of what Mehrgarian accomplished- a truly amazing cultural legacy. These artifacts offer clues to a high degree of aesthetics and values as we know them today.

Foremost among these are the figurines discovered during the excavation. The study of figurines helps understand the social structure and lifestyle of those early people. With well-defined body attributes as well as a variety of necklaces and pendants, beautiful hairstyle, trousers, decorated belts and jewelry, the manufacturing of figurines reveals a high level of aesthetic sense. This shows the proof of human creativity and imagination in those early days. The development of figurine tradition at Harappa had been the result of the development of earlier figurine tradition at Mehrgarh.

In addition to that the extensive excavation uncovered that dwellers of Mehrgarh were well advanced in the architectural development. The settlement comprised planned houses with storage facility and basement as well as drainage system. There is a great similarity in the structure of these houses to those discovered in Mesopotamia.

In fact, we have no written record and concrete evidence about Mehrgarh civilization to determine what language the people spoke. Some scholars are of the view that they might have used the script similar to the Indus Valley Civilization that followed the Mehrgarh civilizations or it could be a totally different kind of language which was lost with the passage of time. Since the site has not been excavated further, much remains unknown.

One can look at the dire and dismal state of the Mehrgarh site. So far, unfortunately, the site is in ruins. Since the discovery, it has remained unattended for many decades. No major work   has been carried out except recent initial surveys for the rehabilitation. It is unknown even to people living in nearby villages and cities.

However, an important initiative by the government of Balochistan is the establishment of Mehrgarh museum completed in 2020. The museum showcases variety of artifacts discovered from Mehrgarh and other sites including thousands of centuries old artefacts brought back form Sindh in 2019, where they were kept for long in the National Museum Karachi. The museum also provides research facilities to the students of the universities. However, there is a need to further develop and upgrade this museum.

In this connection, a very significant initiative has been taken by the United States Embassy in Pakistan through the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) for the upgradation of the museum, capacity building of the staff and as well as strengthening community outreach skills.  This initiative allocates more than $ 8 million for different heritage projects across the country. For the Mehrgarh museum a considerable amount has been allocated by the AFCP, and the work on the museum is in progress.

Now, there is an urgent need to renew and enhance our efforts for safeguarding and rehabilitation of Mehrgarh heritage site. The United Nations Conference on the Human Environment at Stockholm in 1972 put emphasis on the protection of cultural heritage since “deterioration or disappearance of any part of the cultural or natural heritage constitutes a harmful impoverishment of the heritage of all the nations of the world”. Moreover, the article 5 of the world heritage convention is significantly important which explicitly highlights the responsibility of each state party to take necessary steps for the protection and preservation of heritage sites located on its territory.

In this regard additional resources both financial and technical are required for the restoration, rehabilitation and protection of this site. There is also a need to maintain proper record and documentation of all significant cultural sites as well as implementation and enforcement of heritage laws related to protection and preservation. An equally important, perhaps even more significant, is the community engagement to ensure culturally relevant and sustainable outcomes.

Pakistan has an extraordinarily rich history, culture and heritage. According to renowned anthropologist Ayoub Baloch, “Pakistan enjoys the status of a heavy weight after the discovery of Mehrgarh archaeological site”, and “the Mehrgarh and other such sites in the world set the human agenda for the smooth march from simple society to civilization”.

Many archaeological sites are rapidly disappearing. The neglected site of Mehrgarh is just one of hundreds of abandoned archaeological sites, historical buildings and monuments across the province of Balochistan. Now, there is an urgent need to renew and enhance our efforts for safeguarding and rehabilitation of this national asset. It is not just important-it is essential.

Secretary to the Government of Balochistan, and a Chevening Alumnus, studied Public Administration at the University of Brighton-UK.