Shortugai
Shortugai (Shortughai) was an Indus Valley Civilization trading colony established around 2000 BC on the Oxus river near the lapis mines in northern Afghanistan.[1][2]
Location
Takhar Province, Afghanistan. Coordinates :37°19′30″N 69°31′30″E
Site of Indus Valley Civilization
According to Sergent, "not one of the standard characteristics of the Harappan cultural complex is missing from it".[3]
The town consists of two hills called A and B by the excavators. One of them was once the town proper, the other one the citadel. Each of them is about 2 hectares large
Typical finds of the Indus Valley Civilization include one seal with a short inscription,[4] clay models of cattle with carts[5] and painted pottery.[6] Pottery with Harappan design, jars, beakers, bronze objects, gold pieces, lapis lazuli beads, other types of beads, drill heads, shell bangles etc. are other findings.[7] Square seals with animal motiff and script confirms this as a site belonging to Indus Valley Civilisation (not just having contact with IVC).[8] Bricks had typical Harappan measurements.
Dryland farming: A ploughed field with flax seeds in this site indicate dry land farming and irrigation canals dug to bring water from Kokcha (25 km distance) also indicate efforts put in agriculture.[9]
The Kokcha River is located in northeastern Afghanistan. A tributary of the Panj river it flows through Badakhshan Province in the Hindu Kush. The city of Feyzabad lies along the Kokcha. Near the village of Artin Jelow there is a bridge over the river. The Kokcha River valley is known for its lapis lazuli mining in Badakshan province.
Trading post: Shortugai was a trading post of Harappan times and it seems to be connected with lapis lazuli mines located in the surrounding area. It also might have connections with tin trade (found at Afghanistan) and camel trade.[10]
External links
References
- ↑ Kenoyer, Jonathan Mark (1998). Ancient cities of the Indus Valley Civilization. Oxford University Press. p. 96. ISBN 0-19-577940-1. "A"
- ↑ Bowersox, Gary W.; Chamberlin, Bonita E. Ph. D. (1995). "Gemstones of Afghanistan". Tucson, AZ: Geoscience Press: 52
- ↑ Bernard Sergent. Genèse de l'Inde, quoted by Elst 1999
- ↑ Francfort: Fouilles de Shortughai, pl. 75, no. 7
- ↑ Francfort: Fouilles de Shortughai, pls. 81-82
- ↑ Francfort: Fouilles de Shortughai, pls. 59-61
- ↑ Singh, Upinder (2008). A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India : from the Stone Age to the 12th century. New Delhi: Pearson Education. p. 169. ISBN 9788131711200.
- ↑ Singh, Upinder (2008). A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India : from the Stone Age to the 12th century. New Delhi: Pearson Education. p. 169. ISBN 9788131711200.
- ↑ Singh, Upinder (2008). A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India : from the Stone Age to the 12th century. New Delhi: Pearson Education. p. 169. ISBN 9788131711200.
- ↑ Singh, Upinder (2008). A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India : from the Stone Age to the 12th century. New Delhi: Pearson Education. p. 169. ISBN 9788131711200.
Back to Indus Valley Civilisation