Sohr Damb

Coordinates: 27°41′20″N 66°18′30″E

Sohr Damb ('Red Mound'), c. 3800–2300

BC,[2] is an archaeological site, located near
Sohr Damb
Nal, in central Balochistan, Pakistan that
begins before the Indus Valley civilization
featuring Togau, Kili Ghul Mohammad, and
Kechi Beg pottery styles.[2] It has also been
known as Naal, Balochistan, and gave its
name to the prehistoric Amri-Nal culture,
which is attributed to the dual typesites of
Amri and Nal.

The site extends around 4,5 hectares; the

mound (mostly geologically formed) is 13 m
high. The cultural stratum is less than 2 m
deep. The excavations reveal four periods of
occupation, and they could be further divided
into several sub-periods.
Bowl decorated in brown paint on off-white. Nal
pottery, Baluchistan. From Sohr Damb mound,
Pakistan. 3rd millennium BC. British Museum,
London[1]

Excavations
The locality was first discovered in 1903. In
the following years, various minor
excavations took place, including by Sir Aurel
Stein. Another excavation was led by Harold
Hargreaves in 1924.[3] Since 2001, the site
has been systematically excavated by the
German Archaeological Institute and the
Department of Archeology and Museums, Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap

Government of Pakistan. Show zoomed out

Show zoomed mid

Findings Show zoomed in

Show all

Periodisation Location Near Nal, central Balochistan,

Pakistan
Amri-Nal culture: Based on the pottery found
Type Archaeological site
here, it is classified as a separate
archaeological culture / subculture.[4] Length Around 4.5 hectares
Height Mound is 13 meters high

Period I History
Periods c. 3800–2300 BC
The oldest period (Period I) belongs to the
Cultures Amri-Nal culture
cultural complexes called Togau, Kili Ghul
Mohammad, and Kechi Beg, but new research Site notes
is needed to establish the exact sequence of Excavation dates First discovered in 1903,
them, and until now, 16 skeletons were found systematic excavations since
in 11 burials,[2] some of them located in small 2001 by the German
chambers. The grave goods included Archaeological Institute and
ceramics, pearls, and semi-precious stones
Department of Archaeology and
like carnelian, agate, lapis lazuli, also steatite
Museums, Government of
beads, shells with red pigment and grinding
Pakistan
stones.[5] In Tomb 739/ 740, more than 12
bodies and 60 complete pots were found. All
chambers contain multiple fractional burials, deposited some time after death. The pottery
belongs to different cultural styles, such as Togau A–D, Kili Ghul Mohammad, and Kechi Beg,
which were previously believed to represent development through time. The assemblage is
comparable to Mehrgarh III–IV and Shahi Tump in Makran, but the differences in burial
customs and grave goods are pronounced. Some parallels can also be drawn to the Sialk III
horizon in Iran, so a date between 4000/3800 and 3200 BC is proposed.[2]: p.704

Period II

During Period II, we see the appearance of the Nal culture complex. The dead were now
buried in individual graves. There are only a few vessels offered as grave goods. The excavated
mud-brick houses are usually small. There was a lot of utility ceramics, but also some brightly
painted ceramics typical of the Nal culture. There were also millstones, bone implements, and
pearls. The settlement reached its present size of 4.5 ha. The Togau pottery, which was so
common in Period I, was no longer produced and was replaced by the typical Nal pottery which
is buff and carries complex geometric and figurative motifs painted in black, and often with
turquoise, yellow, and red as additional colors. The calibrated dates are between 3100 BC and
2700 BC.[2]: pp.704-705

Period III

Period III is closely related to the other cultures of the area, such as Mehrgarh, and Mundigak in
Afghanistan. The mud-brick architecture has now become larger; copper makes its appearance,
while the ceramics become simpler. Copper and ceramics were probably processed/produced on
site. The calibrated results for Period III are from ca. 2700 to 2500/2400 BC, leaving no doubt
that the terminal date of Period III is not much later than ca. 2400 BC. From this period
onwards, and throughout the borderlands, Mundigak IV reached its largest size, Shahr-i Sokhta
(II–III) grew into an urban center with monumental architecture, and in the Indus Valley, after
2600 BC, a centralized state took shape that gradually expanded over a huge area[2]: p.707

Period IV

The Period IV layers are badly eroded. Overall, this period belongs to the Kulli culture, as well as
the Indus culture. Period IV occupation is very eroded and only attested at the surface, often
just by gravel foundations. The pottery resembles so-called Kulli-Harappan types, and combines
features of the indigenous Kulli complex with those of the Indus civilization and reflects the
westerly expansion into the Kulli domain of this civilization, the calibrated dating results of the
few samples available from Period IV fall to between 2500 and 2300 BC.[2]: p.707

Agriculture
Domesticated cattle bones are plentiful in the
settlement, and bull figurines are also found. The
bones were identified as coming from humped or
Zebu cattle.[6]

Sheep and goats were also kept. The inhabitants

also had dogs. Wild mammals account for only
5% of the bone remains.

The crops like wheat, and hulled and naked

barley were used from the earliest period. Later,
the crops indigenous to the Indian subcontinent,
Humped Zebu cattle - originally domesticated in
like sesame, and millet became more popular.
Balochistan
The sesame sample from Period III is the oldest,
stratified record from this crop until now.

Both wild and cultivated fruits were exploited. Fig, jujube, dwarf palm and grape vine were quite
popular.[7]

Sohr Damb in context

Sohr Damb/Nal is stratigraphically earlier than the Kulli culture phase. Also, at Surab, Nal
occupations are later than the Kili Gul Mohammad phase.

In the past, the Nal cemetery was understood as belonging to the Kulli Culture. But more
recently, Nal is rather understood as belonging to its own pottery tradition, linked more to
Baluchistan.[8]

Sohr Damb ceramics, wheel-turned, and with polychrome decoration, shows some parallels
with Mundigak period III1-6.[9]

There's some controversy about the absolute chronological framework of the transition from
Period II to III at Nal. This transition has a bearing on the chronology of both Shahr-e Sokhta,
and of the Indus civilization. The transition can be dated either to the mid-3rd millennium, or to
the late 3rd millennium BC.[10]

Early Nal has an affinity with Amri, Sindh. Their pottery is quite similar.

Kulli-Mehi culture is in some ways a continuation of Nal.

See also
▪ Indus Valley civilization

▪ List of Indus Valley Civilization sites

▪ Bhirrana, 4 phases of IVC with earliest dated to 8th-7th millennium BCE
▪ Harappa
▪ Kalibanga, an IVC town and fort with several phases starting from Early harappan phase
▪ Kunal, Haryana pre harappan cultural ancestor of Rehman Dheri
▪ Mohenjo Daro
 ▪ Nindowari
▪ Rakhigarhi, one of the largest IVC city with 4 phases of IVC with earliest dated to 8th-7th
millennium BCE

▪ List of inventions and discoveries of the Indus Valley Civilization

▪ Hydraulic engineering of the Indus Valley Civilization
▪ Sanitation of the Indus Valley civilisation

▪ Periodisation of the Indus Valley civilisation

▪ Pottery in the Indian subcontinent

▪ Bara culture, subtype of Late-Harappan Phase
▪ Black and red ware, belonging to neolithic and Pre-Harappan phases
▪ Kunal culture, subtype of Pre-Harappan Phase
▪ Sothi-Siswal culture, subtype of Pre-Harappan Phase
▪ Cemetery H culture (2000-1400 BC), early Indo-Aryan pottery at IVC sites later evolved
into Painted Grey Ware culture of Vedic period

References

Citations
1. British Museum Collection (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/A_1908-0415-3)
2. Görsdorf, Jochen, and Ute Franke-Vogt, (2007). "Implication of Radiocarbon Dates from
Sohr Damb/Nal, Balochistan" (https://www.academia.edu/48847453/Implication_of_Radioca
rbon_Dates_from_Sohr_Damb_Nal_Balochistan), in Radiocarbon, Vol 49, Nr 2, 2007, pp.
703–712.
3. Frankfort, H. (September 1930). "EXCAVATIONS IN BALUCHISTAN 1925, SAMPUR
MOUND, MASTUNGAND SOHR DAMB, NĀL. By H. Hargreaves. Memoirs of the
Archaeological Survey of India, no. 35. Calcutta, 1929. pp. IV, 89, with 24 plates. 16s. 3d" (h
ttps://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/abs/excavations-in-baluchistan-192
5-sampur-mound-mastungand-sohr-damb-nal-by-h-hargreaves-memoirs-of-the-archaeologi
cal-survey-of-india-no-35-calcutta-1929-pp-iv-89-with-24-plates-16s-3d/9E86C1CAEE411A3
2827D62F78E0A49ED). Antiquity. 4 (15): 396–398. doi:10.1017/S0003598X00005172 (http
s://doi.org/10.1017%2FS0003598X00005172). ISSN 0003-598X (https://www.worldcat.org/i
ssn/0003-598X).
4. The Harappan Civilisation: Its Sub-cultures (https://www.dailypioneer.com/2018/state-edition
s/the-harappan-civilisation-its-sub-cultures.html), Daily Pioneer, 10 May 2018.
5. Petrie, Cameron, (2013). "Sohr Damb/Nal" (https://www.academia.edu/6747547/Petrie_C_A
_2013_Sohr_Damb_Nal), in D.K. Chakrabarti and M. Lal (eds.), History of Ancient India II:
Protohistoric Foundations, Vivekananda International Foundation and Aryan Books
International, Delhi, p. 863.
6. Benecke N, Neef R. 2005. Faunal and plant remains from Sohr Damb/Nal: a prehistoric site
(c. 3500–2000 BC) in central Balochistan (Pakistan). (https://www.academia.edu/6235267/)
In: Franke-Vogt U, Weishaar J, editors. South Asian Archaeology 2003. Aachen: Linden
Soft. p 81–91
7. Benecke N, Neef R. 2005. Faunal and plant remains from Sohr Damb/Nal: a prehistoric site
(c. 3500–2000 BC) in central Balochistan (Pakistan). (https://www.academia.edu/6235267/)
In: Franke-Vogt U, Weishaar J, editors. South Asian Archaeology 2003. Aachen: Linden
 Soft. p 81–91
8. Paul Yule (2013), Silver Grave Goods from the Sohr Damb near Nal, Pakistan. (http://www.u
fg-va.uni-hd.de/forschung/yule_silver.html) Universität Heidelberg
9. Paul Yule (2013), Silver Grave Goods from the Sohr Damb near Nal, Pakistan. (http://www.u
fg-va.uni-hd.de/forschung/yule_silver.html) Universität Heidelberg
10. Jochen Görsdorf, Ute Franke-Vogt, IMPLICATION OF RADIOCARBON DATES FROM
SOHR DAMB/NAL, BALOCHISTAN. (https://journals.uair.arizona.edu/index.php/radiocarbo
n/article/download/2966/2725) RADIOCARBON, Vol 49, Nr 2, 2007, p 703-712

Bibliography
▪ Paul Yule (2013), Silver Grave Goods from the Sohr Damb near Nal, Pakistan. (http://www.u
fg-va.uni-hd.de/forschung/yule_silver.html) Universität Heidelberg
▪ Benecke N, Neef R. 2005. Faunal and plant remains from Sohr Damb/Nal: a prehistoric site
(c. 3500–2000 BC) in central Balochistan (Pakistan). (https://www.academia.edu/6235267/)
In: Franke-Vogt U, Weishaar J, editors. South Asian Archaeology 2003. Aachen: Linden
Soft. p 81–91.
▪ Jochen Görsdorf, Ute Franke-Vogt, IMPLICATION OF RADIOCARBON DATES FROM
SOHR DAMB/NAL, BALOCHISTAN. (https://journals.uair.arizona.edu/index.php/radiocarbo
n/article/download/2966/2725) RADIOCARBON, Vol 49, Nr 2, 2007, p 703-712
▪ Hargreaves H. 1929. Excavations in Baluchistan 1925. Sampur Mound, Mastung and Sohr
Damb, Nal. New Delhi: Memoirs of the Archaeological Survey of India 35.
▪ Salvatori S, Tosi M. 2005. Shahr-e Sokhta revised sequence. In: Jarrige C, Lecomte O,
editors. South Asian Archaeology 2001. Paris: ADPF Éditions Recherche sur les
Civilisations. p 281–91.

External links
▪ Archaeology of Ancient Balochistan - Slide show (https://www.harappa.com/slideshows/arch
aeology-ancient-balochistan) (including examples of 'Nal ware') - harappa.com

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sohr_Damb&oldid=1192694808"