Ancient Sindh, 15, 2018-19: 115-133 ABRO, T.A.• , VEESAR G.M. •• & CHANDIO M.A. ••• INNOVATIVE ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS ALONG WEST OF INDUS RIVER AND EASTERN KHIRTHAR PIEDMONT ABSTRACT – The eastern piedmonts of Khirthar Hills carry specific significance in the matter of human presence since the times of first human revolution in which domestication of both animals and plants happened and later-on intensified. Though it happened in Mesopotamian civilization but the similarity can be perceived here in the Indus Valley as well. The region under investigation was first looked by Frere in 1853 and after a sequence of visits was carried by number of archeologists to examine the region but being very tough terrain numerous localities remained unexplored and left several unresolved enigmas. Thus, the present research consist a physical data set from at least 32 sites associated with different phase are discovered and added for more information for making a step forward for understanding of the enigma(s). The attempt specifically focuses on the distribution of archeological sites in hilly environs, lake environs and plain regions for interpretation, analysis and understanding of the cultural change and development. The analytical paradigms utilized in broader spectrum such as geomorphologic; site catchment; and site variation for inter and intra site analysis of cultural aspects of development and change within research region. INTRODUCTION After earlier phase of research since 1853 till 1981; no any work was carried till the recent research which was launched within Larkana and Kambar-Shahdad Kot districts of Sindh Pakistan (Fig.#1). The search base remained accessible geography and water sources of the region like alluvial Plains, Hilly Piedmont, Palaeo-river channels, rain fed rivulets, and lakes. The research carried till this time has showed that it has remain the abode of early cultures having ancient connecting routes between Central Asia, to South Asia for best interaction system which was evidently seen during Indus Urban phase. Especially the region of district Kambar-Shahdad Kot furnishes fresh evidences of initial cultural stages in which pottery was handmade having chaff tempered as of the Neolithic beginnings also reported from Quetta as Buff Ware, Cholistan and Thar as Hakra ware. The pottery continued with the development of wheel as seen in the Nal, Amrian, Kot Dijian, Indus period and onward cultures. • Assistant Professor, Department of Archaeology , Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur •• Professor, Department of Archaeology , Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur ••• PhD, Research Scholar, Department of Archaeology , Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur 115 Observing the actual archeological sites, it was perceived that there were four aspects of settlements from cultural sequencing points of view. The first aspect of sites is having single phase cultural material deposition called as Hakra (Neolithic age). After close examination of data; a distinct pottery group having Chaff temper was separate out based on the variation in the object manufacturing and the settlement occupancy. For instance, the settlement named as Bahawal Shah2 has variation in the manufacturing of clay objects mainly the pottery as it was collected was chaff tempered. Similarly, the settlement named as Toopi, Mugli, Karo Kotero contains surface scatter of only handmade pottery having solid clay bits included when pots were made indicating as continued occupation after this Neolithic age of Hakra. Fig. # 1: Map of the research area. Observing the communities of other regions around the Indus valley; it was clearly evident that the pottery contained similar characteristics of the Chaff Temper and 116 were found at Mehrgarh of Pakistan, Tepe Guram and Tepe Sarab in western Iran (Baridwood 9161-62), Zagross Mountain, Iraq, Turkey, Afghanistan, India and Pakistan. The Second settlement aspect observed during survey of research area (Fig.#2); the other important settlements found were associated with Kot Dijian and Nal cultural traditions. Till today research in Indus valley has showed that the Kot Dijian culture had a very wide distribution in Eastern Sindh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Gomal, Tochi and Taxila valley but very meager evidences was found in Western Sindh. Only two sites were mentioned by Louis Flam namely Rajo Dero and Kohtrash with the presence of Kot Dijian (Flam 1981). The identity of this phase is attested or confirmed on the basis of characteristics like pots having short rim with black bands around the neck and fish-scale painting motif seen as very common features of the Kot Dijian culture. Some sherds having these characteristics are found from at least three sites namely Topi, Mugli, Karonhar-Jo-Daro and Kotero. All three sites are located in the hilly piedmont of Khirthar ranges and Indus plains ecosystem. These settlements are huge mounded sites. The other remarkable discovery from this region was the presence of a Nal cultural tradition of Baluchistan. This Phase is identified on the basis of pottery which is very finely painted, it includes geometrical, faunal and floral elements inserted into panel-like structures or continuous friezes, usually painted on the upper walls of the vessels. Furthermore, the loops, multiple crosses, stepped motifs and concentric circles are among the characteristic geometric elements of the figurative representations, often displayed in intricate combinations, enriched by special applications like bosses or ‘knob’. Pipal leave, birds, fish and especially hybrid animals constitute the remarkable repertoire of vegetal and faunal decorative motifs. The distribution of Nal cultural tradition in Baluchistan is mostly seen in Khuzdar, Kolwa, Las Bela and Khirthar regions. The presence of this tradition is also recorded in other distant regions, such as Eastern Iran or the southern parts of Afghanistan (Ute Franke-Vogt 2003/4: 87). The present archaeological investigations along west of Indus River and eastern piedmont of Khirthar Hills covering Larkana and Kambar-Shahdad Kot Districts of Sindh has furnished evidences of both the Kot Dijian and Nal culture. The Early, Mature and Late Indus period were already discovered in this region and the authors has brought to light few more sites adding to the previous sites of the Early, Mature and Post Indus period. There was a chronological gap after the decline of Indus which archaeologists due to lack of proper investigations and research were unable to complete the cultural sequence, but now with recent research in this region, the earlier cultural traditions Amri, Nal, Kot Dijian are distinct and found in this region. 117 The third settlement aspect carried only one settlement named as Karonher jo Dar where from both the Kot Dijian and Indus period (2800-1900 BC) objects are collected. The regions showed a continued occupation having fourth very distinct settlement aspect classified as Black & Red Ware and Grey Ware traditions of Post Indus period dated as 1500 BCE. Out of all documented settlements, a total of 25 sites are classified and associated with Black and Red Ware in the research area. This tradition is classified on the basis of firing technique in which pottery was baked burnt with longer flame the surface of black and Red ware is rubbed with smooth tool for shiny and glazed surface. Texture of pottery is very thin not thick then 1.5cms. Especially Black pottery is well fired with high temperature for Black polish it becomes Black and hard similar to stone ware bangles. These distinct wares were recognizable with and without slip; Black Ware and Red ware mostly of well burnt fabrics often with polished surface, the common shapes being the dish, bowls and featureless rim and curved sides. This particular Ware has a distinct identity of its own and is found at number of sites which has all the similar characteristics of the Black & Red Ware Pottery found in northern and central India following Late Indus Phase. These archaeological documentations provided best temporal view of the presence of Indus Valley people in the region. Fig.# 2: Nal/Amri, Hakra & Kot Dijian sites in Indus Valley 118 Fig.# 3: The distribution of Black & Red Ware culture in Indus and Ganga Valley including new discoveries BACKGROUND STUDIES After searching literature about the human occupancy of this region; the archaeologists also confronted rich cultural profile that belongs to Indus Valley Civilization. The first account was provided by Frere (1853); who reported the Remnants of an Ancient Civilization in the region. His report, being one of the earliest ones, gives valuable information in the form of a more pristine account of the sites. K.N. Dikshit also in mid-1920 resumed further quick exploration. His work gained importance because it indicated the potential of region and attracted others as H.T. Lambrick (1927-1946) carried subsequent archaeological research in western Sindh and documented nine new sites in the Khirthar and Kohistan regions. Majumdar (1934, 132-35), in Kohistan, the site of Kohtrash was reported. Krishna Deva and McCown 1949 reported the site of Rajo Dero in the Khirthar Mountains piedmont zone near the Gaj Nai . More recent research at Kohtrash; Louis flam 1981 relocated the site of Rajo Dero through the Sindh Archaeological Project and observed that the site was covered with Kot Dijian Pottery and with a few Amri-affiliated sherds, and some wares from Baluchistan assemblages. It was concluded that many sites in the Khirthar Mountains and Sindh Kohistan areas have a few potsherds of Kot Dijian 119 types on their surfaces, but the assemblages are dominated by Amri and Baluchistan type pottery groups. Looking the other region of the Sindh; the early decades of the 20th Century saw an influx of archaeologists and explorers. R.D. Banerji looking for Buddhist period sites stumbled at Mohenjo Daro and exposed the metropolitan site of Mohenjo Daro (Banerji, 1922-23). In 1927, Nani Gopal began a series of Archaeological explorations and excavations in Sindh that uncovered several archaeological sites in the western Sindh (Majumdar, 1934).