 Pre-Harapan cultures map ca 3600–3200 BC. The big yellow squares are the modern-dayKarachi,Lahore, and Delhi. Map includes the ceramics of Kechi Beg andHakra phases. Sites included areRehman Dheri,Kunal, Haryana, and earlyHarappa/pre-Harappan pottery onMakran coast ofPakistan | |
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| Location | Lasbela District, Balochistan, Pakistan |
|---|---|
| Type | Archaeological site |
| History | |
| Periods | Pre-Harappan toIndus Valley Civilization |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 1970s |
Kot Bala, orBalakot is an archaeological site located inLasbela District, Balochistan, Pakistan. It is near theMakran coast of theArabian Sea, and goes back to around 4000 BC.
The settlement of Balakot precedes theIndus Valley civilization by many centuries. It is located in the interior of theSonmiani Bay, along the Lasbela coast (the Plain of Las Bela). This site is of importance due to its proximity to the Arabian Sea, and is believed to have been a main harbour, from which the Indus traders sailed to the coasts of the Arabian Peninsula.
The site was excavated by ProfessorGeorge F. Dales of theUniversity of California, Berkeley in the 1970s, but full details were not published. It is the only site in the region that was professionally excavated.[1]
The upper levels of the site belong to Indus Civilization, while the lower levels feature a culture of its own. The arrival of Indus influence was rather sudden.[2]
The ancient Balakot culture flourished only in this coastal area. The Balakot Phase pottery is known from excavations at Balakot. Three radiocarbon dates from later occupations of this phase indicate the period of 3500–3000 BC.[3] Other archaeologists give the date of 4000 BC for the start of this settlement.
Kech-Makran culture flourished in theKech River Valley in protohistoric times as early as the fifth millennium BC. Balakot was part of that settlement network.[4]
Pottery of Balakot was all wheel-made red ware, although some storage jars were hand-made. It features complex floral and zoomorphic motifs. There are similarities to theNal pottery of Baluchistan. Sometimes the use of red or green paint produced a polychrome effect.
A later Balakot Phase pottery closely resembles the style ofAmri culture.[5]
Excavations at pre-Indus levels of Balakot have yielded evidence of an earlyfurnace.[6] The furnace was most likely used for the manufacturing ofceramic objects. Ovens, dating back to the civilization's mature phase (c. 2500–1900 BCE), were also excavated at Balakot.[7]
25°26′50.28″N66°43′38.28″E / 25.4473000°N 66.7273000°E /25.4473000; 66.7273000