mehrgarh: eleven-season excavation by french archaeological mission

Mehrgarh: Eleven-Season Excavation by French Archaeological

Mission

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Mehrgarh: Eleven-Season Excavation by French

Archaeological Mission

Jamil Hussain Baloch, Dr Gul Hasan

The land of Balochistan has produced a number of ancient

cultures. These cultures have diffused together and give the oldest

and first urban settlement in the shape of Mehrgarh civilization at

Sub-continent (Mirsky 1977: 445).The archaeological sites could

be found everywhere in Balochistan (Deals1964:67). Balochistan

remained the gateway between the civilizations of West and East

and this continued till the arrival of Arab in Sub-continent

(CardiMiss Beatrice de 1964: 89). The present culture of

Balochistan is same as it was before thousands of years, except few

cities (Fairservis 1964:89). The harsh and rough land of

Balochistan still has same village type culture and these cultures

are unique in the World (Karkar 1990: 44). As the geographical

condition of Balochistan is very rough and harsh, but despite this

characteristic, this land witnessed the rise and fall different

civilizations throughout the World (Hameed 2009: 56). This is the

reason that every time new archaeological materials of Balochistan

Balochistaniyat , Volume 02, 2013

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compel the scholars to give new theories or previous one revised

(A.H Dani 1971: 1 in the preface of Saeed book).

Mehrgarh is situated at the foot of Bolan Pass which was one of

the principle communication routes between Iranian Plateau,

Central Asia and the Indus Valley (J.F Jerrige 1998:15). This also

called Bolan Basin which terminated at Kachi Plain (pl.1). Indus

Archaeological Mission led by J.M Casal, for the first time carried

out research at in the Kachi Plain. He carried out excavation at

Pirak which was situated at the east of Mehrgarh (J.M Casal

1990:55). Pirak is situated at the south of Sibi. The excavation at

Pirak revealed a settlement of several hectares which are occupied

in second millennium BC into First millennium BC (J.F Jerrige

1998:45).

While, the present Mission was busy by excavating the site Pirak,

they noticed the remains of prehistoric site along the river. The

Bolan River already taken away many archaeological sites (R.

Besenval 1990 :45). The site was six meters above the ground and

scattered at six hectares in an agriculture field (J.F Jerrige

1998:75). The French excavations at Mehrgarh, Nausharo and

Pirak in the Kachhi plain revealed a long cultural sequence from

the Neolithic Period through the Iron Age. While another French

Mission resumed work in Makran after a 30-year long gap in the


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late 80ies, southeastern Balochistan had remained a "white spot"

on the archaeological landscape (Staurt 1994: 34).

The Eleven season excavation at Mehrgarh

The French Archaeological led by Dr. Jean-Francois Jarrige

carried out eleventh season excavation in Mehrgarh Balochistan to

established sequence from Neolithic time to the immediate

aftermath of Harappa culture. After Carbon dating Mehrgarh

became one of the oldest urban settlement civilizations of the

world with both domestication of animals and plants. The

excavation of Mehrgarh established the chronology of South Asia

from the neolitic to 1800 BC. (Saeed, 1971:89).

First season of Excavation 1974-1975

From November 1974 to March 1975, the first season of

excavations at Mehrgarh in Kachi District of Balochistan was

conducted by the French Archaeological Mission with the

collaboration with department of Archaeology of Pakistan. During

that first season 1000 sq.m were placed under excavation and the

natural soil was reached 1.1meter below the present day level of

the plain (J.F Jerrige 1998:77). The excavation revealed an

unbroken sequence of prehistoric occupations ranging from about

middle of the fourth millennium BC to middle of third millennium

BC. While there is strong culture continuity from the beginning of


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the settlement to its end (J.F Jerrige 1998:78). They discovered

four phases of occupation and thus it was divided into four periods:

I, II, III, IV. It was dated as the first half of third Millennium BC.

On the Bases of Relative Radiocarbon Chronology at Mundigak,

Shar-i-sutka and Damb saddat, (J.F Jerrige 1998:90).

The Findings of Mission in First Season

The findings of first season excavation are included: Massive

Mud-bricks, the mud brick platform, the carinated pot in wet-ware

found in a large jar in third period, the firing places of the jars

where they discovered jar incised mark from the firing structure,

complete and incomplete figurine, the terracotta figurines, bowl,

alabaster, the cemetery of infant burials, the fragment of black on

buff painted pot, decorated bowl, ware goblets, plats and moulds,

polychrome sherds, different kind of seals made up shell and bone

(J.F Jerrige 1998:78).

The second season of excavation from 1975-1976

Like the first season the second season of excavation was carried

out at the mound. Although the archaeological area of Mehrgarh

extends over two hundred hectares but the excavation was

restricted only on the mound. The excavation was conducted from

November 1975 to February 1976 under the supervision of J.F

Jerrige. The aim of second season was to get knowledge about


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earliest phase of occupation of the mound. Excavation was carried

out to north, central and southern part of the mound. Four period of

occupation was discovered. They established the relative

chronology, which goes back to 3300 BC to 2800BC. On the bases

of cultural material and their similarities with Shahr-i-Sotka, they

established the chronology. From excavation four phases of

occupation were discovered (J.F Jerrige 1998:90).

The finding from second season of excavation

The excavated material from this season are included: the large

building structure, the material in room at situ, the firing area of

jars, a large number of houses, the pillars, pebbles, painted jar, buff

ware, wet ware, painted buff ware, red painted bowls with a dark

brown design, polychrome pots, different fragments of poly

chrome, pottery, grey ware lids, plats, sherds, chalices, seals,

terracotta figurine and the animal figurine (J.F Jerrige 1998:94).

Third season of excavation from 1976-1977

The third season of excavation was started at December 4, 1976 to

February 20, 1977 under the supervision of Dr J.F Jerrige. The

excavation was carried out at MR.3, MR.4 and MR.2 as well on

the main mound. The area MR.3 is the earliest phase of occupation

and radio-carbon dating was carried out and before the virgin soil


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the date goes back to the 5000BC and on the virgin soil the date

goes back to the sixth millennium BC (J.F Jerrige 1998:99).

The findings from the third season of excavation

The findings after the excavation are included with: chipped,

polished and ground stone artifacts, limestone chisels, polished

limestone, stone spindle whorl, the stone adzes, hammer stone,

polished stone axe, black in brown on buff-reddish ware, pile of

pottery vessels and pebbles, terracotta human figurine, grey ware,

dish, goblets, double spiralled bronze pin, hollow terracotta

figurine of a bird with holes, seals of terracotta, bitumen, shell and

button and the burial in clay box (J.F Jerrige 1998:100).

The fourth season excavation from 1977-1978

The fourth season of excavation was carried out from December

12, 1977 to February 1978. The excavation was conducted at

MR.3, the northern part of the mound, the southern part of the

mound, MR.4, MR.2, the main mound. After the radiocarbon

dating this period goes to the sixth millennium BC (J.F Jerrige

1998:75).

The finding materials from the fourth season

Grave goods, grey-green stone chisel, necklace which is included

with 17 turquoises, 13 shells and 657 black steatite beads, the


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traces of red and black textile, the imprint of basket on bitumen,

sickle element, blades, clay figurine, torso of a mile of terracotta

figurine, the terracotta seals, the bone compartment seal, torso of

male terracotta figurine, the unbaked clay, polychrome vases, jar in

wet-ware, a large number of pottery, the brown on cream red ware

goblet, cakes fragments, bronze object, spear, ladle, flask with

handle and pot (J.F Jerrige 1998:103).

The fifth season of excavation from 1978-1979

The excavation was conducted by the supervision of great

archaeologist Dr J.F Jerrige from 1978 to 1979. The excavation of

the upper levels of Neolithic Settlement was carried out and a

building with eight small compartments was discovered. The

occupation from MR.3 was started at 7000BC. The archaeologists

believed that this period was the longest period of Neolithic. It was

listed for many years and a large number of graves were excavated

from this season (J.F Jerrige 1998:111).

The discovered objects

The unearthed material are consists of blades, bone needles, the

polished stone axe, shell ornaments from grave, ground shell

pendants, turquoise beads, flint cores, geometric flint of microliths,

stone vessel and core from grave, shell beads and copper beads

from grave, borers, bone awls, bone pendants and bead, large jar of


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fine red ware, black on buff painted jar, sickles elements, blades

set in bitumen, terracotta animal figurine, unbaked clay, human

figurines, crafts activities reflected in stone, bone, shell and

copper, drills together with chlorite and beads in different stages of

manufacturing, the ring of copper beads, bone ring and shell

ornaments, black-brown painted on buff, jar in greenish ware

decorated with circular impressions are collected from fifth season

of excavation (J.F Jerrige 1998:145).

The sixth season of excavation from 1979-1980

The sixth season of excavation at Mehrgarh, Kachi District, and

Balochistan was conducted from the beginning of December, 1979

to the end of February 1980 under the supervision of Dr J.F

Jerrige. The sixth season discovered: Aceramic Neolithic, the early

Neolithic remains of plants, barley, wheat, burial goods, lithic

tools, bone tools and figurines. The focus was the Neolithic period

and intensive evidence of domestication of plant and animal was

taken during this Neolithic period (J.F Jerrige 1998:167).

Finding are included with grave goods, the necklace, the

implement of ground stone, ground stone axe, chipped and ground

stone axe/adze, ground stone vessel of grinding stone, the bone

tools made on distal metapodial, bone points, human unbaked clay

figurine, animal unbaked clay figurine, the ornaments of shell,

turquoise, steatite and other semi-precious materials, black and red


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ware bowls, globular jar red ware, pendants in lapis lazuli,

terracotta, limestone, heads of terracotta figurine, funerary deposits

included pottery, cenotaph, copper and bronze tools. These objects

belong to 7000BC to 3000BC (J.F Jerrige 1998:200).

The seventh season of excavation from 1980-1981

The excavation was carried out at December 1980 to February

1981 under the supervision of Dr J.M Jerrige. The aim of the 1980-

81 season of excavation was to continue and investigate the wide

range of archaeological sites which extended in very huge area.

From the last excavation they came to know that Neolithic site is

scattered around the site and the mission decided to focus on the

Neolithic remains so that they may become able to establish the

chronology of South Asia. They excavated aceramic period and

also a huge building. The mission carried out trenches every

adjacent place to know about the remains of Neolithic period. They

agreed that the process of occupation begun at last Ice Age to the

4500BC (J.F Jerrige 1998:234).

The findings are included with bone awl, bone tool made of

barasingha, limestone and shell ornaments and beads, the baked

clay, ground stones slabs, stone axe, stone balls, nuggets, galena,

polychrome sherds, seals, button, terracotta figurine, terracotta

figurine of humped bull, the funerary deposits, inscriptions,


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plaque, ball, shaft hole axe of copper and bronze (J.F Jerrige

1998:244).

The eight season of excavation from 1981-1982

The eight season excavation was carried at Mehrgarh from

December 1981 to February 1982 under the guidance of Dr J.M

Jerrige. The focus was basically the Neolithic period. Furthermore,

attentions were much paid on the evolution of technology. The

further excavation was conducted at Neolithic period. A large

number of graves were excavated. The storage rooms were

exposed. This show how intensive was the domestication at that

time (J.F Jerrige 1998:278).

The findings included: animal figurine, grave goods, and the bones

of animals, ornaments from grave, bone awl, bone spatula, incised

bone tools, the shell shape object with painting, pottery, bangles

and sherds, ceramic objects, terracotta figurine of sheep and bull,

polychrome vessels, flint sickle elements, black and yellow painted

on buff pot, canister pot, knobbed ware sherds, different kind of

seals, terracotta female figurines, head of ram, seals, bone pin,

copper and bronze pin and terracotta spoon (J.F Jerrige 1998:300).

The ninth season of excavation from 1982-1983

The ninth season of excavation was carried out at December 1982

to February 1983 under the supervision of Dr J.F Jerrige. The


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excavation carried out at graves and northern area of the mound.

But the main focus was the Neolithic period. General topography

of the site and adjacent area was taken by Enault (J. F Jerrige

1998:346).

The finding are include to figurine of unbaked clay, artifacts of

bone and shell, shell pendant, the pendant from green stone, stone

chisel, the shell and stone ornaments from graves, polished stone

axe, coarse ware sherds with basket impression, chipped stone

assemblage, stone mortars, stone vessels, incised clay ball,

terracotta animal and human figurine (J.F Jerrige 1998:400).

Tenth season of excavation from 1983-1984

The building and graves were excavated. Anthropological studied

were carried out. The grave goods were limited during this season.

Beautiful pot and ceramic were discovered from this site. The most

important feature of this season was the excavation of burial sites

at Mehrgarh. These dates collected from Mehrgarh provide some

important information on the anthropological and culture (J.F

Jerrige 1998:455).

The findings are burial of adult, unbaked clay of human figurine,

bone tools, fir-pit with pebbles, white steatite necklace, painted

pot, the chalcolithic cemetery, carinated and white pots, terracotta

seal and button, copper and bronze, sherds of bracketed ware from


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the fill of the kilin and fragments of conical stands (J.F Jerrige

1998:465).

Final phase of excavation from 1984-1985

The last and final phase of excavation was carried out at December

1984 and completed at February 1985 under the supervision of J.M

Jerrige. They have selected few pleases for the excavation and

during the last period the mostly they focuses on the report so that

the chronology must be established. This excavation was also

carried out mostly on Neolithic period to know about the

anthropological and evolution of humen being in the Neolithic

percent .The anthropological was carried (J.F Jerrige 1998:470).

The findings are include with painted dishes, figurine on unbaked

clay, tempered potsherds with raised decoration, bone awls, bone

flesher, double pot with pink buff surface and paste, red painted

and ware, pottery, potters tools, seals, bull figurine and terracotta

female figurine (J.F Jerrige 1998:500).

Conclusion

The periodization on the bases of Mehrgarh is as follows,

1. Primary Neolithic approximately 7500 to 4000BC (J.F

Jerrige 1998:12).


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2. Chalcolithic approximately 4000 to 3600BC, during this

period further development of agriculture took place, the

domestication of animal intensified, wheat was replaced by

barley, and flood irrigation system came into being. The

use of wheel, the development of vessel and ceramic

production dominate in this site (J.F Jerrige 1998:13).

3. Mature Indus period can also see form the pottery (J.F

Jerrige 1998:11).

4. The remains of Iron Age also reflect from the surface

collection (J.F Jerrige 1998:14).

5. Mosque approximately shows the arrival Islamic period

(J.F Jerrige 1998:15).

The French Archaeological Mission has huge contribution for the

establishment of the chronology of South Asia


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Figure 1 Map of Balochistan Figure 2 Bolan Route

Figure 3 Firing area of jars

period VI

Figure 4 Figurines from third

period


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Figure 9 Seals of 3rd and 4th

period

Figure 10 Grey war

Figure 5 female figurine Figure 6 The house from fourth

period

Figure 7 Polychrome pots from 3rd

period Figure 8 Two painted chalices and

two pots in brown 4th period


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Figure 11 Terracotta figurines of

bird and bronze pin

Figure 12 Burial in clay box

Double spiralled

Figure 13 Beads and microlithic

tools Figure 14 The pottery from

Mehrgarh

15 Copper and bronze objects Figure 16 Shell pendants


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Figure 17 Copper and bronze

objects

Figure 18 Shell pendants

Figure 19 Architecture and pottery

and seals

Figure 20 burial

Figure 21 Grave goods Figure 22 the burial shows the

domestication


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Figure 23 Humped bull figurine Figure 24 Terracotta figurine

and seals

Figure 25 Different ornaments Figure 26 Stone vessel,

shell beads and blades


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Selected Bibliography:

Baloch, A. Hammed. Makran: Hadh a Qadeem se Hadh Jadeed

takh. Karachi: Syed Zahoor Shah Hashmi Reference Library, 2009.

Baloch, Malik Muhammad Saeed. Balochistan Ma Kabil Az

Tarikh. Quetta: Balochi Academy, 1971.

CardiMiss Beatrice de, “British Expedition to Kalat, 1948 and

1957.” Pakistan Archaeology, Number 1. (1964).

Deals,Dr. George F. “The University Museum of Pennsylvania

Expeditions to Makran”, compiled by Khan, Dr. F.A in Pakistan

Archaeology, Number 1. (1964).

Fazal, Dad Karkar. “Exploration of Archaeological sites in

Northern Balochistan and their Culture Relationship with the

adjacent Regions”. Pakistan Archaeology, number 25 (1990).

Jr, Walter A. Fairservis. Balochistan Expedition: 1950,”Pakistan

Archaeology, Number 1. (1964).

Mirsky, Jeannette. Sir Aural Stein: Archaeological Explorer.

London: Chicago university press, 1977.


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Piggott, Staurt. “A New Prehistoric Ceramic from Balochistan”,

compiled by Raiz Siddiqi in On Archaeology of Pakistan, Karachi:

Indus publication, 1994.

Piacentini, V. Fiorani and R. Besenval.“International Indian Ocean

Routes and GawaderKuh-Batil Settlement in Makran”.Pakistan

Archaeology, number 25 (1990).

Mehrgarh: Field report 1974 to 1985 from Neolithic times to the

Indus Civilization edited by Catherian Jerrige, J.F Jerrige, R. H

Meadow and G Quivron and published by Department of Culture

and Tourism government of Sindh with Collaboration of French

Ministry of Foreign Affairs.


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mehrgarh: eleven-season excavation by french archaeological mission

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