Excavations Reveal 7,000 Year-Old Harappan Sites

Daily Times ^ | 1-20-2004

[blam]

Excavations reveal 7,000 year-old Harappan sites

Staff Report

PESHAWAR: Gandi Umar Khan, around 55 kilometres west of Dera Ismail Khan, is the most important archaeological site of the Indus Valley civilization in the North Western Frontier Province.

Gandi Umar Khan is spread over an area of 220 by 200 meters and has a maximum height of 8.5 metres. The site was discovered in 1997 by the University of Peshawar. The Directorate of Archaeology and Museum NWFP conducted an extensive survey of the Gomal Plain in March 2003 and discovered 95 sites out of which exist 53 sites of different periods dating back to 7,000 years.

Gandi Umar Khan is the largest settlement of 11 Harappan Period sites that were discovered in the region. Another attraction for researchers was the Kot Dijian culture that was also found on the site. In view of the significance of the site, the directorate carried out excavations from September 2003 to January 2004.

During the excavations, two main periods were identified; the Harappan and Kot Dijian. The researchers were particularly excited about their discovery of the relationship between the two periods. The archaeologists believe that the Harappan Civilization derived from the Kot Dijian and prefer to call the latter the “Early Harappan Culture”. Some researchers have identified transitional phases between them at certain cites. But no transitional phase was witnessed there. Rather a complete break between them was observed. A fifty-five centimetre-thick ashy layer devoid of any cultural material separates them.

The Harappans and the Kot Dijians lived in mud-brick structures on the site of Gandi Umar Khan in the Gomal Plain while in Harappa and Moenjodaro, they lived in kiln-baked brick structures. The orientation of the rooms remained unchanged. The Kot Dijians at Gomal used the same style of architectural with only slight variations from the Harappans.

The Harappans of Gandi Umar Khan worshipped the mother-goddess and cult objects in the shape of T/C female figurines were collected from the site, reflecting a regional variation because they are slightly different from those found at Harappa and Moenjodaro. Other antiquities excavated from the site include stone blades, tools and beads, metal objects like antimony rods and nails, baked clay ceramics and T/C cakes. Pottery and T/C cakes were found in large numbers from the site. The Harappan pottery is mainly plain. However, painted ceramics were also collected. These were painted black on red in floral and geometrical pattern.

On the other hand, the Kot Dijian ceramics are thin and include short-necked grooved ware, flanged-rimmed and painted and plain ware, Quetta wet-ware and rimless bows.

Prof Dr Ihsan Ali, director of the Directorate of Archaeology and Museum NWFP, Zakirullah Jan, field director, Mir Muhammad, Sohail Khan, Asim Amin and Niaz Ali Shah, students of the University of Peshawar were part of the team that took part in the excavation of Gandi Umar Khan site.

[blam]

[swarthyguy]

BUMP.
Jives with supposition that the IndusHarappan peoples stretched far north into the mountains from the Bay of Cambay / Rann of Kutch and the Indus Delta area.

[Tacis]

"PESHAWAR: Gandi Umar Khan, around 55 kilometres west of Dera Ismail Khan"

Is that the same Gandi who works at the QuickeeMart in St. Louis?

[blam]

This discovery is in the Gulf Of Kutch.

Lost Civilisation From 7,500BC Discovered Off Coast Of India

[LiteKeeper]

read later

[blam]

The Ancient Indus Valley

[farmfriend]

Gods, Graves, Glyphs
List for articles regarding early civilizations , life of all forms, - dinosaurs - etc.

Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this ping list.

[blam]

The Indus Valley Civilisation At Lothal

[swarthyguy]

Those two gulfs have changed quite a bit in recent times, past few hundred years even. Old British maps show the gulfs changing their shape, depth and reach into the land as the ocean ebbed and flowed. The soil is soft, and the area could've been where the ancient Saraswate river is alleged to have emptied into the ocean. Some reports said an ancient riverbed had been found recently.

That area is waiting for some city to rise up out of the ooze. I hope.

[EggsAckley]

bttt

[JimSEA]

I am definitly saving up for a trip there!

[BenLurkin]

It is intriguing how complex (and in some ways advanced)the earliest civilizations were.

[blam]

"Some reports said an ancient riverbed had been found recently."

I'm pretty sure I read that too. I did a quick search and couldn't find anything on it though.

[moroz]

“dating back to 7,000 years”

That would put Gandi Umar Khan roughly between Red-haired Goddess (7000 years ago) and Vinca (between 4500 and 3500 BC) time.

Any idea is Harappan mother-goddess similar to Red-haired Goddess from Donja Branjevina?
http://vojvodina.srbija-info.yu/ingles/turizam/turizam0.html

[moroz]

I’d like to be added to ping list. Thanks.

[blam]

I'm presently re-reading the book The Tarim Mummies and there was some association between these folks and those in northern India-Pakistan. These folks may have taken Buddhism from India to China.

The Tarim Mummies

BTW, excellent book.

[blam]

"Any idea is Harappan mother-goddess similar to Red-haired Goddess from Donja Branjevina? "

May be related to the red-headed mummies in post #19...thousands of years apart though.

[farmfriend]

Consider yourself added. If you ever change your mind, or I get you on the wrong list, just let me know.

[Henchman]

Great! More mud huts. The Mudmen are rampant and Flash Gordon is no where in sight.