Indus Valley Civilization (3300–1300 BCE)

Indus Valley Civilization (3300–1300 BCE)

Indus Valley sites

There were many cities in the Indus Valley, but the major ones were Mohenjo-daro, Harappa, Ganeriwala, Dholavira, and Rakhigarhi. Some think they might have spoken a language like Dravidian, but nobody knows for sure because we can’t understand their writing. Even though they’re gone now, their cities and what they made tell us lots about how they lived.

Here is the  Indus Valley sites in Pakistan

• Harappa

Harappa, in Punjab, Pakistan, is famous for the Bronze Age Indus Valley Civilization. The massive civilization spread from Gujarat to Sindh, with sites in Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and near Iran’s coast. The site’s name comes from a nearby village, although the Ravi River has shifted.

• Mohenjo-daro

Mohenjo-daro, located in Sindh, Pakistan, was an ancient site constructed around 2500 BCE. As the largest city of the Indus Valley Civilization, it stood among the earliest major urban centers worldwide, existing alongside ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Minoan Crete, and Norte Chico.

• Nausharo

Nausharo, situated in Balochistan, Pakistan, holds significance as an archaeological site from the Harappan period. From 1985 to 1996, a team of French archaeologists, led by Jean-François Jarrige, conducted excavations there. It’s part of a cluster of sites including Mehrgarh and Pirak, contributing to our understanding of ancient history in the region.

• Chanhudaro

Chanhu-daro, an Indus Valley Civilization site, rests 130 kilometers south of Mohenjo-daro in Sindh, Pakistan. Occupied from 4000 to 1700 BCE, it was renowned for producing carnelian beads. This settlement, consisting of three mounds, formed a single 7-hectare settlement, as revealed by excavations.

• Ganweriwal

Ganweriwal, also called Ganweriwala, is an archaeological site in Punjab’s Cholistan Desert, Pakistan. It was a significant city in the Indus Valley Civilization, among the vast Bronze Age Civilizations, likely serving as a central hub. Discovered in the 1970s by Mohammad Rafique Mughal, it remains largely unexcavated to date.

• Mehrgarh

Mehrgarh, a Neolithic site in Balochistan, Pakistan, dating from 7000 BCE to 2500/2000 BCE, was discover in 1974 by the French Archaeological Mission. Excavations revealed artifacts from six mounds, with the earliest settlement dating back to 7000 BCE in the northeastern corner, covering about 495 acres.

• Lakhueen-jo-daro

Lakhan-jo-daro, an archaeological site, stands as one of the largest cities from the Indus Valley Civilization. Positioned in an industrial area near today’s Sukkur, it’s only 75 kilometers away from another major city of that time, Mohenjo Daro. This site spans over 300 hectares, showcasing the ancient civilization’s grandeur.

• Larkana

Larkana, in Sindh, Pakistan, is the 15th largest city by population, renowned for Mohenjo-daro of the Indus Valley civilization. It’s in Larkana District, formerly “Chandka,” situated on the south bank of the Ghar canal. In the 2017 Census, its population was 490,508, making it the fourth most populous city in Sindh and the fifteenth largest in Pakistan.

• Pirak

Pirak, an Indus Valley civilization site in Balochistan, Pakistan, discovered by Robert Raikes in 1963 and excavated by Jean Marie Casal’s French mission (1968-1974). It predates sites like Mehrgarh, covers 12 acres with an 8-meter mound, and was inhabited from around 1800 BCE to 800 BCE.

• Kot Diji

Kot Diji, dating back to 3300 BCE, predates the Indus Civilization. The site, near Khairpur, Pakistan, on the Indus River, features a citadel and outer zone. Excavations in 1955 and 1957 revealed its historical significance. The well-preserved Kot Diji Fort, built in 1790, stands on a steep hill near the Rohri Hills.

• Rehman Dheri

Rehman Dheri, near Dera Ismail Khan in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, is a Pre-Harappan Archaeological Site dating from 3300 to 1900 BC. As one of the oldest urbanized centers in South Asia, it is positioned 22 kilometers north of Dera Ismail Khan and is listed on Pakistan’s Tentative List for potential World Heritage Sites.

• Amri

Amri, an ancient settlement in present-day Sindh, Pakistan, dates back to around 3600 BCE. Situated south of Mohenjo Daro on the Hyderabad-Dadu Road, it spans over 100 kilometers north of Hyderabad, Pakistan.

• Sutkagan Dor

Sutkagan Dor, the westernmost site of the Indus Valley civilization, is located about 480 km west of Karachi near Gwadar, along Pakistan’s border with Iran in Baluchistan Province. Positioned on the Makran coast near the Dasht River and the Gajo Kaur stream, this smaller settlement is mark by sturdy stone walls and gateways.

• Sokhta Koh

Sokhta Koh, or “burnt hill,” is a Harappan site near Pasni in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, along the Makran coast. Discovered by George F. Dales in 1960, it’s about 15 miles north of Pasni. Another site, Sutkagen-dor, inland near the Dasht River, suggests potential overseas trade during the Harappan era. With pottery styles placing it in the Mature Harappan Era (2600-1900 BC), Sokhta Koh provides insights into ancient maritime connections.

• Tharro Hills

The Tharro Hills, situated in Sindh, Pakistan, have garnered significance due to the discovery of important archaeological sites linked to the Amri culture. This region has unveiled remnants and artifacts from the Amri culture, an ancient civilization that existed in the area. Archaeological explorations in this vicinity have unearthed valuable insights into the lifestyle, practices, and material culture of this ancient civilization.

• Pir Shah Jurio

Pir Shah Jurio is an archaeological site link to the ancient Indus Valley civilization found in Sindh, Pakistan. Discovered by Abdur Rauf Khan, it sits at the Hub River’s mouth in the Karachi district. Believed to have been a pivotal port in ancient times, this site likely held substantial importance for trade or maritime activities.

• Allahdino

Allahdino, a small village dating back to the Harappan period, rests about 40 kilometers east of Karachi, Pakistan. Spanning 1.4 hectares, it’s an unfortified settlement situated in a coastal region. Despite its organized layout, this village was abandoned around 2000 BCE.

• Balakot

Balakot, nestled within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Mansehra district in Pakistan, faced severe devastation during the catastrophic 2005 Kashmir earthquake. The town, situated amidst picturesque mountainous landscapes, experienced widespread destruction, with buildings, infrastructure, and homes crumbling due to the tremors.

• Ganeriwala

Ganweriwal, in the Cholistan Desert of southern Punjab, Pakistan, is a significant archaeological site within the Indus Valley civilization. Discover in the 1970s by Mohammad Rafique Mughal, it’s identified as one of the largest cities of the civilization. The site has revealed artifacts like mudbrick walls, unicorn figurines, a copper seal, and an impressed clay tablet.

• Nindowari

Nindowari, also called Nindo Damb, stands as a Kulli archaeological site found in Balochistan, Pakistan, tracing its origins to the chalcolithic period. Studies at the site indicate that before the emergence of the Kulli civilization, the Harappans had previously occupied the Nindowari complex. There’s evidence suggesting a potential connection between the Kulli culture and its roots or influence from the Harappan

• Judeir-jo-daro

Judeir-jo-daro, also recognized as Damb Judeir, reflects the historical era of the Harappan period within Balochistan, Pakistan. This location once accommodated approximately 20,240 individuals across an expanse covering 2,700,000 square feet, equivalent to roughly 62 acres.

• Dabarkot

Dabarkot, an ancient Indus Civilization site in Balochistan, Pakistan, was a significant trading post around the fifth millennium BC. Excavations revealed a Harappan connection through various artifacts, including stone beads, copper items, and gold accessories. The large mound, 500 yards in diameter, indicates its substantial size and importance. Presently in Loralai District, the site is federally protect under the Antiquities Act 1975.