The French Archaeological Mission in the Indus Basin (MAFBI)

60 Years of Archaeological Cooperation between France and (1958‐2018)

1

About the MAFBI Mission

Partner scientific institutions

Laboratory « Archéologies et Sciences de l’Antiquité » (ArScAn), UMR7041‐CNRS, team « Central Asia », France Department of Archaeology and Museums, Culture, Tourism and Antiquities Department, Government of Laboratory “Archéozoologie et Archéobotanique”, UMR7209‐CNRS/Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, France Taxila Institute of Asian Civilizations (TIAC), Quaid‐e Azam University Shah Abdul Latif University, ‐ Département of Geography, Paris‐Sorbonne University, Abu Dhabi

The Mission has been awarded the quality label « Archaeology 2016‐2017 » by the French ‘Académie des Inscriptions et Belles‐Lettres (Institut de France, Paris).

Institutional and financial support

French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE), 2013‐2018 Embassy of France in Pakistan, Scientific and Cultural Cooperation Section, 2013‐2018 Consulate General of France in , 2013‐2018 Alliance Française de Karachi, 2012‐2018 Endowment Fund Trust for the Preservation of the Heritage of Sindh, 2016‐2017 National Geographic Society, Committee for Research and Exploration, 2017 Partenariat Hubert Curien (PHC) – Programme Peridot (2017/2018‐2019/2020) The Shelby White and Leon Levy Program for Archaeological Publications, 2014‐2016

The team and other contributors (2015‐2018)

Director: Dr. Aurore DIDIER, archaeologist, CNRS researcher, head of « Indus‐ progamme » at ArScAn Deputy Director: David SARMIENTO‐CASTILLO, archaeologist, PhD student, University of Paris 1 / CNRS, ArScAn

Syed Shakir SHAH, archaeologist, Culture, Tourism and Antiquities Department, Prof. Dr. Eric FOUACHE, geo‐archaeologist, Department of Geography, Paris‐Sorbonne University, Abu Dhabi Jean HUMBERT, Independent draftsman Alexandre HOUDAS, archaeologist, PhD student, University of Paris 1 / CNRS, ArScAn Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ashraf KHAN, archaeologist, TIAC, Quaid‐e Azam University, Dr. Marjan MASHKOUR, zooarchaeologist, research director, CNRS, « Archéozoologie et Archéobotanique » Dr. Pascal MONGNE, archaeologist, research associate, CNRS, ArScAn Dr. Gonzague QUIVRON, archaeologist, research associate, CNRS, ArScAn Prof. Dr. Margareta TENGBERG, archaeobotanist, Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle Saleem VAHIDY, coordinator Logistics and Security, Karachi

20 Pakistani students in archaeology and young professionals in cultural heritage 2

Before 2013: Brief history and main fieldwork

The French Archaeological Mission in the Indus Basin was born in 2013 with the combination of two pioneering research programs carried out in cooperation with the Department of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Pakistan:

1‐ The ‘Mission Archéologique de l’Indus’ (Archaeological Mission to Indus, M.A.I.), founded by Dr. Jean‐Marie Casal† (CNRS / Musée Guimet) then directed by Dr. Jean‐François Jarrige† (CNRS). For about 40 years of continuous fieldwork in Sindh (years 1958‐1962) and Balochistan (years 1962‐2000), the MAI mission focused its researches on the origin, development and regional interactions of the Indus Valley Civilization (2500‐1900 BCE) considered as the first urban phenomenon in . This complex ‘’ civilization which covered an immense territory was distinguished by a town planning system, highly developed hydraulic/drainage structures, a homogeneous material culture, innovative craft technologies, and an undeciphered script. The MAI excavations at , and in Balochistan put in evidence the longest continuous sequence of occupation in South Asia (8th‐1st millennia BCE) and contributed to establish strong relationships between the Indus civilization and its predecessors (Neolithic and cultures), particularly in the pyrotechnological craft productions.

2‐ The French Archaeological Mission in (MAFM) founded and directed by Dr. Roland Besenval† (CNRS). In Makran (southwestern Balochistan) ‐ a region that has long been remained on the fringes of most archaeological research ‐ the multidisciplinary studies by the MAFM mission (in 1987‐2007) highlighted dynamic ancient cultures traced back to the 5th millennium BC. The rich material culture dating to Chalcolithic and Bronze Age periods (4th‐ 3rd millennia BCE) evidenced interactions with south‐eastern , the Indus Valley, Central Asia and the Peninsula. The mission also collected key data on the expansion and trade of the Indus Civilization.

Map of the sites excavated or studied by the French missions M.A.I., MAFM and MAFBI in 1958‐2018 (in red) and location of the 2015‐ 2018 working area. In Sindh © MAFBI 3

Key researches of the M.A.I. and MAFM missions:

 1958‐1962: Excavations at AMRI (, Sindh). Occupation: Chalcolithic, pre‐Indus, Indus. 3500‐2500 BCE. A reference site for the periodization of the Lower Indus Valley.

 1962‐1965: Excavations at (Kalat District, Balochistan). Occupation: Pre‐Indus, Kulli culture. 3rd millennium BCE. The only large‐scale excavation ever carried out at a site ascribed to the Kulli Culture (2600‐1900 BCE).

 1968‐1974: Excavations at PIRAK (Kachi‐Bolan, Balochistan). Occupation: Post‐Indus, Iron Age. 1700‐500 BCE. A new rural economy and settlement pattern.

 1975‐1985, 1997‐2000: Excavations at MEHRGARH (Kachi‐Bolan, Balochistan). Occupation: Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Bronze Age. 8000‐2500 BCE, 2100‐1900 BCE. A crucial contribution for the Protohistory of South Asia.

 1985‐1996: Excavations at NAUSHARO (Kachi‐Bolan, Balochistan). Occupation: Pre‐Indus, Indus. 3100‐1900 BCE. Better understanding the origin and development of the Indus Civilization.

 1987‐2007: Extensive surveys/environmental studies in MAKRAN Balochistan). Occupation: Chalcolithic, Bronze Age, Historic periods. 5th mil. BCE – 19th c. AD Establishing the archaeological map of Kech‐Makran.

 1990‐1996: Excavations at MIRI QALAT (Makran, Balochistan). Occupation: Chalcolithic, Bronze Age, Indus, Historic periods. 5th mil. BCE – 19th c. AD Establishing the chrono‐cultural sequence of SW Balochistan.

 1997‐2006: Excavations at SHAHI‐TUMP (Makran, Balochistan). Occupation: Chalcolithic, Early Bronze Age. 5th‐3rd millennium BCE. A key site for studying the Chalcolithic cultures of SW Balochistan.

Pirak Mehrgarh Nausharo

4 Miri Qalat Shahi‐Tump Shahi‐Tump

The MAFBI fieldwork in Sindh (2015‐2018)

In 2013, the two missions were combined to create a single research program ‐ the French Archaeological Mission in the Indus Basin (MAFBI) ‐ under the direction of Dr. Aurore Didier (CNRS‐UMR7041/ArScAn). In 2015 a new field‐work started in Sindh in cooperation with Culture, Tourism and Antiquities Department, Government of Sindh, and Department of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Pakistan. This new research aims at bringing further data on the inter‐regional interactions between Sindh and Balochistan during the Chalcolithic and Indus Civilization periods, and to provide new insight on developments and changes in architecture and material culture during the first period or beginning of the Indus Civilization (2500‐2300 BCE). The MAFBI current program includes two field‐operations: excavations at Chanhu‐daro (Shaheed Benazirabad District) and a full‐coverage archaeological survey combined with test‐soundings in Kirthar foothills ().

Excavations at Chanhu‐daro

The Indus Civilization site of Chanhu‐daro is located 20 km from the current west bank of the , between the modern cities of and . It was discovered by N.C. Majumdar (Archaeological Survey of ) in 1931 and excavated during one field‐season in 1935‐1936 by the first American Expedition to India under the supervision of Ernest Mackay. Several architectural levels in fired bricks ‐ dated a posteriori by G. Quivron to the 2nd and 3rd Indus periods (2300‐1900 BCE) ‐ were evidenced and the site was also known in the archaeological literature as one of the most important craft production centers of the Indus Civilization, particularly for bead manufacturing. But little is known about the 1st period or beginning of the Indus Civilization (2500‐2300 BCE). Since the 1930s, the excavated architectural remains at Chanhu‐daro have totally disappeared due to erosion and brick recycling. However, the preservation of the occupation layers underneath made that the site offers today a great potential for documenting the first architectural and material developments during the Indus period on a very large surface. In 2015‐2018, the MAFBI team excavated a surface of about 2000 square meters which provided the remains of a vast architectural complex built in mudbricks and divided into several quarters or units most often by narrow lanes that belonged to the same building phase (dated to 2500‐2300 BCE by radiocarbon analysis). The complex includes: 1‐ Several habitat quarters and individual houses equipped with storage, firing and sanitary installations; 2‐ A building of 15 meters long equipped with massive walls, 12 planned quadrangular cells and rooms and in which numerous craft indicators associated with bead working have been found; 3‐ “Craftsmen houses” (lapidary workshops and dwellings) composed of rooms, cells and courts; 4‐ A quarter entirely dedicated to pyrotechnological activities which included thermally insulating compartments, moving compartments designed for a temporary use, fireplaces, saggars and a large quadrangular kiln reinforced by pillars in fired bricks. A north‐south street of 6‐7 meters wide has also been excavated in 2018.

Chanhu‐daro in 2017. © MAFBI 5

2016 excavations. © MAFBI

General map of 2016‐2017 excavations. © MAFBI 2017 and 2018 excavations. © MAFBI

The recent excavations at Chanhu‐daro by the MAFBI mission offered a new vision of urbanism during the beginning of the Indus Civilization which challenged previous interpretations of the site foundation and settlement layout. They also brought an exceptional contextualized documentation on the craft productions dated to the first Indus period. Besides the discovery of huge amounts of pottery and various objects in 6 terracotta, stone or shell, the different parts of the complex provided huge amounts of tools (blades, bladelets, drills, borer/drills, pressure flakers, hammer in deer antler, anvils, grindingstone, polishing tablet) and stone craft remains illustrating all the steps of bead manufacturing from stone knapping, cutting, pre‐forming of blocks and objects until perforating, polishing and firing. They include thousands of pebbles, chips and flakes in chalcedony (agate, jasper and cornelian) and thousands of blocks and debris in beige/brown or grey steatite showing cutting marks, hundreds unfinished (drilled or not) microbeads in raw steatite, finished beads in various stones (vesuvianite, lapis lazuli, bloodstone, calcite, ribonned calcite, rock crystal) or faïence as well as other craft indicators such as small white paste plaques, tablets and cylinders (fired talc/steatite). The functional organization of settlement divided into specialized quarters with associated dwellings and collective installations designed to optimize the craft production indicates that Chanhu‐daro was obviously a hub which already played a key role in the manufacturing and regional distribution of stone beads.

A selection of pottery and various object found during 2016‐2017 excavations. © MAFBI

The MAFBI team in 2017. © MAFBI 7

Surveys and test‐soundings in Baran River area (Sindh‐Kohistan, Jamshoro District)

In 2015, the MAFI mission started a geo‐archaeological survey program in the area located north‐west of the Baran River around the villages of Karchat and Taung which offers a high potential for better understanding how the river system and its sedimentation process have affected the spatial organization of ancient settlements, studying the settlement patterns and exploitation of natural resources, and documenting the regional interactions between Sindh and Balochistan during the Chalcolithic, pre‐Indus and Indus periods (4th – 3rd millennia BCE). In 2019, the team will carry out test‐soundings at Karchat (Chalcolithic / Indus periods), Phang/kotrash and Taung Buthi, a fortified mound dating from the Indus Civilization which was settled in the middle of a series of low‐altitude ridges forming a natural protective barrier. It is located at a strategic point of passage between the western side of the which gives access to Balochistan valleys and the eastern side opening towards the Indus Valley.

Left: Taung Buthi. Right: Phang/Kotrash. © MAFBI

Training, expertise, cultural activities and public awareness

The MAFBI training programs in Pakistan and France

Besides excavations and surveys, the MAFBI fieldwork in Sindh includes training programs for students in archaeology from various universities (University of Sindh‐Jamshoro, Shah Abdul Latif University, Quaid‐i Azam University‐Islamabad), young archaeologists, field‐officers, assistant curators and professionals in cultural heritage from Antiquity Department and Exploration and Excavation Branch (Culture, Tourism and Antiquities Department, Government of Sindh), Endowment Fund Trust for Preservation of the Heritage of Sindh and National Museum of Karachi. In 2016‐2018, 20 of them participated in the field‐training programs at Chanhu‐daro (excavation techniques, material registration, management of collections, topography, mapping, archaeological drawing, photography, kite aerial photography, photogrammetry, data processing and data mining). The MAFBI members also organize teachings, seminars and workshops in Pakistani universities, bring their expertise in the study, preservation and enhancement of cultural heritage for different institutions and provide scientific and logistic support to young archaeologists and Master/Ph.D students in their field‐work, particularly in Balochistan. With the financial support of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Embassy of France in Pakistan, the PHC‐ Progamme PERIDOT (Higher Education Commission, French Ministry of Foreign Affairs French Ministry of Ministry of Higher Education and Research), several Master and Ph.D students from Taxila Institute of Asian Civilizations, Quaid‐i Azam University, obtained scholarships for specialized trainings (pottery and lithic studies, bioarchaeology, digital humanities, cartography, webmapping, conservation/restoration) organized in 2016‐2017 in the laboratory CNRS‐UMR7041 and in other French partner laboratories.

8

Kite Aerial photography

Field‐training programs at Chanhu‐daro in 2016 and 2017 and seminar/workshop at TIAC in 2016. © MAFBI

9

Training programs in France in 2016 and 2017. © MAFBI

Cultural activities and public awareness

In Sindh, the MAFBI project contributed to create local awareness and capacity‐building of closer cooperation between local and international institutions, administrative authorities and philanthropists. As the main benefit of this collaboration is an initiative developed by the Ministry for Culture, Tourism and Antiquities, Government of Sindh to construct an interpretative center/Museum at Chanhu‐daro. Antiquities Department, MAFBI experts and local philanthropists are working together to prepare flyers on MAFBI fieldwork, posters and exhibitions and organize site visits and conferences intended to a broad public. In addition, public awareness is encouraged through media.

Left: 2017 Visit of the MAFBI field‐camp by Sardar Ali Shah (Minister Culture, Tourism and Antiquities), Manzoor Ahmed Kanasro, (DG Antiquity Department), officials from Sindh Culture Department, François Dall’Orso (Consul General of France in Karachi) and local philanthropists. Right: Presentation of the results of Chanhu‐daro excavations by A. Didier at the ‘International Conference on Mohenjo‐daro and the Indus Civilization’ (2017).

10

Selection of publications, talks, posters and media articles

Last publications and reports

Didier, A., 2017. La Mission Archéologique Française du Bassin de l’Indus : 60 ans de coopération franco‐ pakistanaise en Archéologie et Patrimoine. La Lettre Diplomatique 119: 26. Didier, A., Sarmiento‐Castillo, D., Mongne, P., and Shakir Ali Shah, S. 2017. Resuming excavations at Chanhu‐daro (Sindh): First results of the 2015‐2017 field‐seasons. Pakistan Archaeology 30. Didier, A., Sarmiento‐Castillo, D., Mongne, P., and Shakir Ali Shah, S. In preparation. A New Light on the Beginning of the Indus Civilization. Recent Discoveries at Chanhu‐daro, Shaheed Benazirabad District, Sindh. Culture, Tourism and Antiquities Department, Government of Sindh. Didier, A., Sarmiento‐Castillo, D., Mongne, P., and Shakir Ali Shah, S. In preparation. Chanhu‐daro: excavations 2017 and 2018. Report submitted to the Department of Archaeology and Museums of Pakistan / Culture, Tourism and Antiquities Department, Government of Sindh. Didier, A., Shakir Ali Shah, S., Mongne, P., Sarmiento‐Castillo, D., 2016. French Archaeological Mission in the Indus Basin. Preliminary Report on the 2016 Field‐season at Chanhu‐daro, Taluka Sakrand, District Shaheed Benazirabad, Sindh (Pakistan). Report submitted to the Department of Archaeology and Museums of Pakistan / Culture, Tourism and Antiquities Department, Government of Sindh. Didier, A., Shakir Ali Shah, S., Mongne, P., Sarmiento‐Castillo, D., 2015. French Archaeological Mission in the Indus Basin. 2015 Field‐Season in Sindh. Report submitted to the Department of Archaeology and Museums of Pakistan / Culture, Tourism and Antiquities Department, Government of Sindh.

Last talks (in English)

Didier, A., Jarrige, C., Quivron, G., 2017. “From Amri to Chanhu Daro, 60 Years of Excavations by the French archaeological mission in Sindh and Balochistan”. International Conference on Archaeological Heritage of Pakistan, Heritage Now, , Pakistan, Oct. 20‐25, 2017. Didier, A., Sarmiento‐Castillo, D., Mongne, P., Shakir Ali Shah, S., 2017a. Further Research on the Beginning of the Indus Civilization in Sindh. Results of the Pakistani‐French Excavations at Chanhu‐daro in 2015‐2017. International Conference on Archaeological Heritage of Pakistan, Heritage Now, Lahore, Pakistan, Oct. 20‐25 2017. Didier, A., Sarmiento‐Castillo, D., Mongne, P., Shakir Ali Shah, S., 2017b. “A New Light on the Beginning of the Indus Civilization: Recent Discoveries at Chanhu‐daro, Shaheed Benazirabad District by the French Archaeological Mission in the Indus Basin”. Culture, Tourism and Antiquities Department, Government of Sindh, March 9, 2017. Didier, A., Sarmiento‐Castillo, D., Mongne, P., Shakir Ali Shah, S., 2017c. “2015‐2016 Excavations at Chanhu‐daro, Sindh: Results and research perspectives”. Conference on Mohenjo‐daro and Indus Valley Civilization, Karachi, Pakistan, Feb. 9‐11, 2017. Didier, A., Mongne, P., Sarmiento‐Castillo, D., Shakir Ali Shah, S., 2016a. “New light on the beginning of the Indus occupation at Chanhu‐daro, Pakistan. Results of the 2015‐2016 field‐work in southern Sindh by the French Archaeological Mission in the Indus Basin”. 23rd International Conference of the European Association of South Asian Archaeology and Art (EASAA), Cardiff, UK, July 4‐8, 2016. Didier, A., 2016. “Pakistan‐France archaeological cooperation in Sindh. 2016 excavations at Chanhu‐daro”. Alliance Française de Karachi, Pakistan, Feb. 20, 2016. Sarmiento‐Castillo, D., 2017. Heritage Preservation. Heritage Now, Lahore, Pakistan, Oct. 20‐25, 2017.

Posters

Didier, A., 2015. “From Balochistan to Sindh. Archaeological Research of the Pakistani‐French Mission: Results and Recent Developments”. International Workshop ‘Cultural Heritage and Archaeology of Pakistan’, Museum für Islamisches Kunst, Berlin, Germany, April 22‐25, 2015. Didier, A., Sarmiento‐Castillo, D., 2016. “2015 explorations and archaeological survey in the Taung / Karchat area, Sindh, Pakistan”. Alliance Française de Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan, Feb. 20, 2016. 11

Didier, A., Sarmiento‐Castillo, D., 2014. 6 Posters. “The French archaeological field‐research in Pakistan by Mission of Indus (MAI) and Mission in Makran”, “Excavations at Mehrgarh (1974‐1985, 1997‐2000)”, “Excavations at Amri, Nindowari and Pirak (1958‐1974)”, “Excavations at Nausharo (1985‐1996) and other sites”, “Explorations in Kech‐Makran and excavations at Miri Qalat (1987‐1996)”, “Excavations at Shahi‐Tump (1997‐ 2006) and environmental studies in Kech‐Makran”. International seminar ‘French and European contributions to ’, Karachi, Pakistan, Feb 3‐4, 2014.

Media and web articles

2017:

“Pakistan, France Further Deepening Bilateral Cooperation in Archaeology”. Associated Press of Pakistan Corporation, Dec. 15, 2017. http://www.app.com.pk/pakistan‐france‐further‐deepening‐bilateral‐cooperation‐in‐archaeology/ , A. “Unearthing History”. Newsline magazine, April 26, 2017. http://newslinemagazine.com/magazine/unearthing‐history/ Newspaper’s staff reporter. “French team uncovers mysteries of Indus civilisation’s ‘industrial hub’”. , March 10, 2017. https://www.dawn.com/news/1319466/french‐team‐uncovers‐mysteries‐of‐indus‐civilisations‐industrial‐hub Tunio, H. “Chanhu Daro — industrial hub of the ancient ”. , Feb. 23, 2017. Zubair, N. “Springtime in Chahiyun jo daro”. .com, March 21, 2017. https://www.harappa.com/blog/springtime‐chanhiyun‐jo‐daro

2016:

Alam, M.M.”Discovering the Mehrgarh Civilization”. Dawn, July 14, 2016. Memon, Z. “ French Experts discover artefacts at Chahun jo Daro”. Dawn, Jan. 23,. 2016. https://www.dawn.com/news/1234779 « Programme ‘Mission Archéologique Française du Bassin de l’Indus, Pakistan’ ». Website of Académie des Inscriptions et Belles‐Lettres. http://www.aibl.fr/fouilles‐archeologiques/article/programme‐mission‐archeologique “Mission Archéologique du Bassin de l’Indus ». Site internet du laboratoire Archéologie et Sciences de l’Antiquité, UMR7041‐CNRS. http://www.arscan.fr/archeologie‐asie‐centrale/mafbi/ « Focus Pakistan – La Mission Archéologique Française du Bassin de l’Indus ». In : Les missions archéologiques françaises : Des acteurs‐clés de la coopération scientifique et internationale. MEAE website. http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/politique‐etrangere‐de‐la‐france/diplomatie‐scientifique/archeologie‐sciences‐ humaines‐et‐sociales/les‐missions‐archeologiques‐francaises‐des‐acteurs‐cles‐de‐la‐cooperation/les‐sorties‐de‐crise‐ comment‐les‐missions‐reprennent‐elles‐apres‐la‐fin‐du/article/focus‐pakistan‐la‐mission‐archeologique‐francaise‐du‐ bassin‐de‐l‐indus

2015:

Alam, M.M., 2015. A Mission in Makran ‐ How Archaeology has brought Pakistan and France closer together. The Express Tribune Magazine, April 12, 2015. https://tribune.com.pk/story/866479/a‐mission‐in‐makran/ “ French archaeologists explore cultural heritage of southern Sindh”. Daily Times, Dec. 7, 2015. https://pakistannewsindex.com/%EF%BB%BFfrench‐archaeologists‐explore‐rich‐pak‐culture‐heritage/

12

13