Mehrgarh Civilization.pptx

history

1. Mehrgarh Civilization GROUP-B Kashaf Sadiqeen Ahad Imran Dua Shabir Kalsoom Asad Tooba Ali

2. CONTENT Discovery Location Different eras Artifacts Restoration Contribution to Pakistan economy

3. DISCOVERY This site was discovered in 1974 by an archaeological team led by French archaeologists Jean-Francois Jarrige and his wife, Catherine Jarrige . Region: South Asia Period: Neolithics

4. Location In Pakistan Situated on the Kacchi Plain of Balochistan in Pakistan . Located near the Bolan Pass, to the west of the Indus River . Between the modern-day Pakistani cities Quetta, Kalat and Sibbi .

5. DIVISION OF MEHRGARH CIVILIZATION IN DIFFERENT ERAS…

6. First Period Earliest period of Mehrgarh is characterized by polished stone tools and bone tools. In this phase the subsistence economy consisted of a combination of hunting , stock-breeding and plant cultivation. The domesticated animals comprise cattle, sheep, goat and water buffalo while the cultivated plants comprise several varieties of wheat and barley. The houses were made of mud and mud-bricks.

7. Second Period This period has left evidences of handmade, basket-impressed coarse ware. There was emergence of wheel-made pottery painted in reddish and black color with simple straight and curved lines, rows of dots and crisscrosses. Metal technology started , evident from the discovery of a copper ring and a bead.

8. Third Period The Vessels were now decorated with paintings of birds and animals as also with geometric designs. Oats and another variety of wheat was added to the agriculture. Stone bead manufacturing and copper smelting started.

9. Fourth Period Emergence of polychrome pottery with a tall goblet with wide mouth and a pedestal base as a new shape. Extensive use of timber in the construction of houses.

10. Fifth Period A marked decline in polychrome decoration on pottery. Sixth Period Dramatically increase in pottery styles and the first evidence of pottery kilns. Pipal leaf and humped bull designs appear on pottery which anticipate Harappan motifs.

11. Seventh Period Richness and variety of terracotta figurines very much similar to the Indus Valley Civilization. Emergence of monumental architecture evident from a large brick platform. Eighth Period Structured graves, semi-precious stone beads and a bronze shaft-hole axe.

12. MEHRGARH ARTIFACTS

13. HUMAN FIGURINES At Mehrgarh , archaeologists discovered South Asia’s first clay figurines. They were common even before pottery and the first figurine q uite simplistic. The time goes on they become more sophisticated and around 4000 BC all the figurines were woman. They were consider as “mother goddesses” because they were often seen cradling infants. After sixth period there were more figurines of male.

14. BURIALS The Mehrgarh site contains two different types of graves. There were both individual burials, where a single person was confined in thin mud walls, and collective burials, where the skeletons of six different people were found inside thin mud-brick walls.

15. POTTERY Pottery is first mentioned in second period. As the potter’s wheel is developed in third period, the findings become much more common and exhibit more sophisticated patterns as wall as animal motifs.

16. RESTORATION

17. THE DAMAGE The site is considered to be an open air museum and not many measures were taken for its preservation. The site was exposed to the natural elements, and over time it was effected by erosion, weathering, and other forms of damage.

18. RESTORATION EFFORTS In light of the damage sustained by the site, various efforts have been made to restore and preserve Mehrgarh . These efforts have included stabilizing the site's architecture, preserving its artifacts, and increasing security to protect the site from looting. Additionally , conservationists have also been working on preserving the geological structures and promoting sustainable tourism.

19. CONTINUING CHALLENGES Despite the restoration efforts, there are still several challenges to preserving Mehrgarh . One of the major challenges is the lack of funding and resources for ongoing preservation efforts. Another challenge is the lack of trained personnel to carry out preservation work. Additionally, the site is still exposed to the elements, and there is always the risk of natural disasters like floods . It's worth noting that the Mehrgarh is an ongoing excavation and preservation process, and things are subject to change as new discoveries and understanding of the site are made.

20. CONTRIBUTION OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES IN PAKISTAN’S ECONOMY

21. Archaeological sites can make a significant contribution to a country's economy, particularly in terms of tourism . In Pakistan, there are many ancient sites and ruins that attract both domestic and international tourists. For example, Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa are two of the most significant archaeological sites in the country, and they are both UNESCO World Heritage sites .

22. These ancient cities were part of the Indus Valley Civilization, which is one of the earliest civilizations in the world . Tourism is a major industry in Pakistan and the government has been working to promote it as a way to boost the economy . In addition to the revenue generated by ticket sales and souvenirs, archaeological sites can also help to create jobs in the tourism sector, such as tour guides, hotel and restaurant staff, and transportation providers.

23. Any Question ?