Mehrgarh, is the most magnificent and ancient heritage site found in Balochistan Province. It is the precursor of Indus valley civilization as well as the earliest known Neolithic settlement in South Asia. The uncovering of Mehrgarh was an stunning revelation in the world of archaeology.

Writer at the ruins of Mehrgarh Archaeological site

This area of Balochistan province forms some environmental resemblance to the southern Mesopotamian plains and the neighboring Iranian plateau. Similar to Mesopotamia, this region also has climatic extremes -intensely very hot summers and occasionally very cold winters. People living in this area get their water supplies from rivers and streams that surge in the mountains. As per archaeological evidence, this region was home to Stone age hunter-gatherer clusters that continued to flourish for many thousands of years where hunting and gathering remained a way of life.

Evidence of early farming, craft activities, domestication of animals and development of architecture placed Mehrgarh in the forefront in the world of archaeology. Though the agriculture begins very early on around 9000 BC, and in this connection, the first and the oldest site where the traces of agriculture were found is in Jericho in the Jordan River valley. However, in South Asia, the oldest settlement found so far which is an agriculturally based settlement is Mehrgarh.

The Mehrgarian grew wheat, barely, peas, cotton and lentils. They established granaries for storage of grains and exported them to nearby places. This shift from hunter-gatherer lifestyle to agriculture-based society was a fundamental and sweeping change which is also known as neolithic revolution.

Another significant achievement of ancient Mehrgarh pertains to craft activities. The people of Mehrgarh demonstrated a high level of skill in arts and crafts such as tanning, bead manufacturing, flint making, metalworking including fashioned tools, pottery making and female figurine.   The beauty and sophistication of artifacts reveals that the ancient dwellers of Mehrgarh seem to have invested tremendous effort in mastering these skills, and that is indeed an enduring contribution.

The study of figurines helps understand the social structure and lifestyle as well as cultural development of early people. In Mehrgarh human figurines were found in large quantities. The manufacturing of figurines unfolds a high level of aesthetic sense with a variety of necklaces and pendants, beautiful hairstyle, trousers, decorated belts and refined jewelry leading to well defined body attributes and the state of fashion, culture and tradition. The archaeological research shows that the development of figurine tradition at Harappa had been the result of the development of earlier figurine tradition at Mehrgarh.

Furthermore, the archaeological skeletal remains reveal that Mehrgarh witnessed early domestication of animals such as goats, sheep and cattle.  Domestication is a process whereby the animals or plants are appropriated and controlled for material and social benefits by a human society. The origin of domestication is considered a significant development in the history of humanity.

The farming culture and the domestication of animals is characterized as a radical economic move from hunting-gathering to the production of food as well as strong demographic transition followed by a deep social change. Domestication is also considered an ultimate phase of strengthening in the relationship between animal and human societies.

 

Another exciting finding of Mehrgarh is architectural development. The research on Mehrgarh provides a large amount of data of architectural techniques. The archaeological evidence shows that the people of Mehrgarh were the first to live in mud- brick houses. The houses had different divisions and were in rectangular shape. There is a great similarity in the structure of these houses to those discovered in Mesopotamia in 7^th millennium BC. Besides that, there are further evidences of resemblance of Mehrgarh and Mesopotamia in agricultural, crafts and funerary practices.

Mehrgarh and such other sites of paramount importance in our country need early attention. The heritage development and restoration has not been addressed adequately despite of the fact that heritage and culture give people a sense of unity and belonging as well as better understanding of history. Heritage preservation is significantly important, but so is further education of public. The unplanned development works on roads, buildings, dams and motorways has proved to be a constant threat to heritage preservation.

In this direction, a detailed survey of every heritage sites is needed. Secondly, a separate cell may be established in planning and Development Department for safeguarding all cultural properties which, more or less, are affected by development activities. Thirdly, collective effort, long term partnership and intervention with key stakeholders is critically important.

The civilized societies always value their heritage. But unfortunately, Mehrgarh heritage site has failed to get the essential attention as compared to other sites in Pakistan. As a result, it has almost been wiped away except a mound and few traces due to the river erosion that once gave it life, repeated flooding and deteriorating law and order situation.

Heritage and culture are a part of our identity. It is our responsibility to keep our heritage close to our heart. All efforts must be made to mobilize required support   for protection and restoration of this magnificent heritage site of Mehrgarh and our national treasure having immense historic and cultural value.

 

Chevening Alumnus, Studied Public Administration at the University of Brighton-UK, and presently serving as Provincial Secretary in Government of Balochistan.

 

Magnificent Mehrgarh

 

Balochistan Province has a unique distinction in taking lead in South Asian Archaeology while introducing a path-breaking discovery of the 7000 years old Mehrgarh archaeological site. The credit of this iconic discovery excavated during the period from 1974 to 1985, close to the mouth of historic Bolan Pass and 12 Kilometers towards the west from Dhardar town in Bolan district of Balochistan, goes to the French Archaeological Mission headed by the late Dr. Jean- Francois Jarrige and his team in collaboration with the Department of Archaeology and Museums of Pakistan. The discovery of Mehrgarh placed Pakistan at the center of cultural radiation when compared to the more advanced civilizations of the world.

Mehrgarh, is the most magnificent and ancient heritage site found in Balochistan Province. It is the precursor of Indus valley civilization as well as the earliest known Neolithic settlement in South Asia. The uncovering of Mehrgarh was an stunning revelation in the world of archaeology.

Writer at the ruins of Mehrgarh Archaeological site

This area of Balochistan province forms some environmental resemblance to the southern Mesopotamian plains and the neighboring Iranian plateau. Similar to Mesopotamia, this region also has climatic extremes -intensely very hot summers and occasionally very cold winters. People living in this area get their water supplies from rivers and streams that surge in the mountains. As per archaeological evidence, this region was home to Stone age hunter-gatherer clusters that continued to flourish for many thousands of years where hunting and gathering remained a way of life.

Evidence of early farming, craft activities, domestication of animals and development of architecture placed Mehrgarh in the forefront in the world of archaeology. Though the agriculture begins very early on around 9000 BC, and in this connection, the first and the oldest site where the traces of agriculture were found is in Jericho in the Jordan River valley. However, in South Asia, the oldest settlement found so far which is an agriculturally based settlement is Mehrgarh.

The Mehrgarian grew wheat, barely, peas, cotton and lentils. They established granaries for storage of grains and exported them to nearby places. This shift from hunter-gatherer lifestyle to agriculture-based society was a fundamental and sweeping change which is also known as neolithic revolution.

Another significant achievement of ancient Mehrgarh pertains to craft activities. The people of Mehrgarh demonstrated a high level of skill in arts and crafts such as tanning, bead manufacturing, flint making, metalworking including fashioned tools, pottery making and female figurine.   The beauty and sophistication of artifacts reveals that the ancient dwellers of Mehrgarh seem to have invested tremendous effort in mastering these skills, and that is indeed an enduring contribution.

The study of figurines helps understand the social structure and lifestyle as well as cultural development of early people. In Mehrgarh human figurines were found in large quantities. The manufacturing of figurines unfolds a high level of aesthetic sense with a variety of necklaces and pendants, beautiful hairstyle, trousers, decorated belts and refined jewelry leading to well defined body attributes and the state of fashion, culture and tradition. The archaeological research shows that the development of figurine tradition at Harappa had been the result of the development of earlier figurine tradition at Mehrgarh.

Furthermore, the archaeological skeletal remains reveal that Mehrgarh witnessed early domestication of animals such as goats, sheep and cattle.  Domestication is a process whereby the animals or plants are appropriated and controlled for material and social benefits by a human society. The origin of domestication is considered a significant development in the history of humanity.

The farming culture and the domestication of animals is characterized as a radical economic move from hunting-gathering to the production of food as well as strong demographic transition followed by a deep social change. Domestication is also considered an ultimate phase of strengthening in the relationship between animal and human societies.

 

Another exciting finding of Mehrgarh is architectural development. The research on Mehrgarh provides a large amount of data of architectural techniques. The archaeological evidence shows that the people of Mehrgarh were the first to live in mud- brick houses. The houses had different divisions and were in rectangular shape. There is a great similarity in the structure of these houses to those discovered in Mesopotamia in 7^th millennium BC. Besides that, there are further evidences of resemblance of Mehrgarh and Mesopotamia in agricultural, crafts and funerary practices.

Mehrgarh and such other sites of paramount importance in our country need early attention. The heritage development and restoration has not been addressed adequately despite of the fact that heritage and culture give people a sense of unity and belonging as well as better understanding of history. Heritage preservation is significantly important, but so is further education of public. The unplanned development works on roads, buildings, dams and motorways has proved to be a constant threat to heritage preservation.

In this direction, a detailed survey of every heritage sites is needed. Secondly, a separate cell may be established in planning and Development Department for safeguarding all cultural properties which, more or less, are affected by development activities. Thirdly, collective effort, long term partnership and intervention with key stakeholders is critically important.

The civilized societies always value their heritage. But unfortunately, Mehrgarh heritage site has failed to get the essential attention as compared to other sites in Pakistan. As a result, it has almost been wiped away except a mound and few traces due to the river erosion that once gave it life, repeated flooding and deteriorating law and order situation.

Heritage and culture are a part of our identity. It is our responsibility to keep our heritage close to our heart. All efforts must be made to mobilize required support   for protection and restoration of this magnificent heritage site of Mehrgarh and our national treasure having immense historic and cultural value.

 

Chevening Alumnus, Studied Public Administration at the University of Brighton-UK, and presently serving as Provincial Secretary in Government of Balochistan.