Kot Diji
| کوٹ ڈیجی (Urdu) | |
View of the Kot Diji Fort from the town
|
|
 Shown within Pakistan
|
|
| Location | Khairpur District, Sindh, Pakistan |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 27°20′44″N 68°42′24″E / 27.34556°N 68.70667°ECoordinates: 27°20′44″N 68°42′24″E / 27.34556°N 68.70667°E |
| Type | Settlement |
| History | |
| Periods | Harappan 1 to Harappan 2 |
| Cultures | Indus Valley Civilization |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 1955, 1957 |
The ancient site at Kot Diji (Urdu: کوٹ ڈیجی) was the forerunner of the Indus Civilization. The occupation of this site is attested already at 3300 BCE. The remains consist of two parts; the citadel area on high ground (about 12 m), and outer area. The Pakistan Department of Archaeology excavated at Kot Diji in 1955 and 1957.
Located about 22 kilometers south of Khairpur in the province of Sindh, Pakistan. It is on the east bank of the Indus opposite Mohenjo-daro.
The site is situated at the foot of the Rohri Hills where a fort (Kot Diji Fort) was built around 1790 by Talpur dynasty ruler of Upper Sindh, Mir Suhrab who reigned from 1783 to 1830 AD. This fort built on the ridge of a steep narrow hill is well preserved.
The development of these farming communities in different parts of Baluchistan and Lower Sind, ultimately led to urbanization. The earliest fortified town to date is found at Rehman Dheri, dated 4000 BCE in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa close to River Zhob Valley. Other fortified towns found to date are at Amri (3600–3300 BCE) and Kot Diji in Sind and at Kalibangan (3000 BCE), India at the Hakra River.
The site covers 2.6 ha. The earliest occupation of this site is termed 'Kot Dijian', which is pre-Harappan, or early formative Harappan.
At the earliest layer, Kot Diji I (2605 BC), copper and bronze were not used.
The houses and fortifications were made from unbaked mud-bricks. Lithic material, such as leaf-shaped chert arrowheads, shows parallels with Mundigak layers II-IV. The pottery seems to anticipate Harappan Ware.
Later, bronze was used, but only for personal ornaments. Also, potters wheel was already used.
The Early Harappan phase consists of two clearly defined areas.
Citadel on high ground for the elites separated by a defensive wall with bastions at regular intervals. This area measures about 500 ft x 350 ft.
...
Wikipedia