Key words: Pirak post-Indus regional cultural site, revival of pre-Indus culture of the Kachchi Plains after demise of Indus Civilization, first indication of presence of horses and two-humped Bactrian camels in South Asia
The ancient archaeological site of Pirak is situated about 20 kilometres from the early settlement of Mehrgarh in the Kachchi Plains of Eastern Baluchistan. The nearest modern town is Sibi.
Pirak emerged as a strong regional culture, in the period around 1900 BC. The site remained occupied for more than 1200 years till about 800 BC. The settlement, which was spread over an area of about 10 hectares (25 acres), was located on top of mounds on the banks of the Nari River.
The Kacchi Plains as well as most other regions in Baluchistan had remained a weakly integrated region of the Indus Civilization even when the Indus Civilization was at the height of its power. As a result Pirak was quickly able to establish its dominance in this region during the dying phases of the Indus Civilization.
The cultural alignment of Pirak was with Mehrgarh and the Pak-Iranian borderlands in the west and with Jhukardaro in the east. The similarity of artefacts produced at Pirak in the period after 1900 BC with those of Mehrgarh in the period 3000 BC indicates a degree of continuity over a long period in the cultural patterns in the Kacchi Plains and in the Quetta Region. The Indus Civilization made its influence felt but could not totally displace local culture.
A substantial number of artefacts have been found from the site, which include pottery and bone and stone tools. Archaeologists have also found evidence of hearths and dwellings made of mud. The overall picture, which emerges from the artefacts belonging to the post-Indus Civilization period at Pirak, is one of re-emergence of pre-Indus Civilization culture of the Kachchi Plains at the site after the dominance of the Indus State in this region had ended in the period around 1600 BC.
Among the most interesting artefacts found from the archaeological site of Pirak are terracotta figurines of horses and two-humped Bactrian camels. Some bones of camels have also been found from this site. This is the first evidence from any site in ancient Pakistan, of the presence of these animals, which were probably brought to this area from Bactria and other regions of Central Asia. Active cultural and trade relations with Central Asia are also indicated by terracotta and bronze seals of geometric design found from Pirak, which are similar to the ones found and used in the Murghab Region of Central Asia.
At Pirak new forms of pottery were introduced after the demise of the Indus Civilization. This includes polychrome globular vessels and cups with handles. These were mostly painted with geometric designs. This typical pottery belonging to Pirak is quite different from that of the Indus Civilization but has some affinities with pottery produced at Mehrgarh in the pre-Indus Period. Pottery similar to the one belonging to the post-Indus phase at Pirak has also been found from sites in Baluchistan Highlands, which indicates some degree of Pirak Culture in this region.
The location of Pirak in the relatively fertile region on the banks of the Nari River permitted cultivation of rice, as well as fodder crops for the animals.
The ancient archaeological site of Pirak is situated about 20 kilometres from the early settlement of Mehrgarh in the Kachchi Plains of Eastern Baluchistan. The nearest modern town is Sibi.
Pirak emerged as a strong regional culture, in the period around 1900 BC. The site remained occupied for more than 1200 years till about 800 BC. The settlement, which was spread over an area of about 10 hectares (25 acres), was located on top of mounds on the banks of the Nari River.
The Kacchi Plains as well as most other regions in Baluchistan had remained a weakly integrated region of the Indus Civilization even when the Indus Civilization was at the height of its power. As a result Pirak was quickly able to establish its dominance in this region during the dying phases of the Indus Civilization.
The cultural alignment of Pirak was with Mehrgarh and the Pak-Iranian borderlands in the west and with Jhukardaro in the east. The similarity of artefacts produced at Pirak in the period after 1900 BC with those of Mehrgarh in the period 3000 BC indicates a degree of continuity over a long period in the cultural patterns in the Kacchi Plains and in the Quetta Region. The Indus Civilization made its influence felt but could not totally displace local culture.
A substantial number of artefacts have been found from the site, which include pottery and bone and stone tools. Archaeologists have also found evidence of hearths and dwellings made of mud. The overall picture, which emerges from the artefacts belonging to the post-Indus Civilization period at Pirak, is one of re-emergence of pre-Indus Civilization culture of the Kachchi Plains at the site after the dominance of the Indus State in this region had ended in the period around 1600 BC.
Among the most interesting artefacts found from the archaeological site of Pirak are terracotta figurines of horses and two-humped Bactrian camels. Some bones of camels have also been found from this site. This is the first evidence from any site in ancient Pakistan, of the presence of these animals, which were probably brought to this area from Bactria and other regions of Central Asia. Active cultural and trade relations with Central Asia are also indicated by terracotta and bronze seals of geometric design found from Pirak, which are similar to the ones found and used in the Murghab Region of Central Asia.
At Pirak new forms of pottery were introduced after the demise of the Indus Civilization. This includes polychrome globular vessels and cups with handles. These were mostly painted with geometric designs. This typical pottery belonging to Pirak is quite different from that of the Indus Civilization but has some affinities with pottery produced at Mehrgarh in the pre-Indus Period. Pottery similar to the one belonging to the post-Indus phase at Pirak has also been found from sites in Baluchistan Highlands, which indicates some degree of Pirak Culture in this region.
The location of Pirak in the relatively fertile region on the banks of the Nari River permitted cultivation of rice, as well as fodder crops for the animals.
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