Shortugai
 Shown within Afghanistan
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| Location | Takhar Province, Afghanistan |
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| Coordinates | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Type | Settlement |
| Area | Approximately 4 ha (9.9 acres) |
| History | |
| Cultures | Indus Valley Civilization |
Shortugai (Shortughai) was an Indus civilization trading colony established around 2000 BC on the Oxus river near the lapis mines in northern Afghanistan.[1][2] 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.
Findings
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).[7] 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.[7]
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.[7] It also might have connections with tin trade (found at Afghanistan) and camel trade.[7]
References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.. "During the height of the Indus valley civilization about 2000 B.C., the Harappan colony of Shortugai was established near the lapis mines."
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Further reading
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- Henri-Paul Francfort: Fouilles de Shortughai, Recherches sur L'Asie Centrale Protohistorique Paris: Diffusion de Boccard, 1989
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