Proto-historic Balochistan: Evidence from Mehrgarh

Abstract

The excavations done by the archaeologist in different parts of Balochistan, including Kech Valley at Meri Kalat and Shahi Tump, Mehrgarh at Kachi, and Suhr Damb at Naal, have provided valuable understanding of the prehistoric period of the region's proto-inhabitants. This paper aims to review the recently published archaeological papers, monographs, proceedings, and archives on the archaeological finding of Balochistan special focus on Mehrgarh. The findings indicate that Balochistan evolved from an autonomous and indigenous cultural society into a part of the Harappan civilization due to trading, religious interaction, and intersocietal interaction. Cultural developments in Balochistan during the fourth and third millennia B.C. connected this region with the Harappan civilization and, simultaneously, with Mesopotamia. During the British colonial period, one of the major obstacles in interpreting archaeological findings was analyzing Balochistan's prehistory in the light of historical perspectives that boosted the region's cultural achievements in antiquity. Furthermore, it emphasizes the need to use different analytical frameworks to accurately interpret historical events in Balochistan. Overall, this paper provides valuable insights into the prehistoric period of Balochistan and its cultural development over time.