Pakistan is home to some of the oldest cultures in the world. The ‘Neolithic Revolution’ – the prehistoric transition from hunting to farming communities- took place sometime about 8500 – 6000 BC in the Fertile Crescent of the Middle East, and Pakistan is just at the edge of this cradle of civilization. Here are a few of the oldest and most important sites where visitors can get a glimpse into humanity's ancient past:
Visiting Ancient Moenjodaro During Travel to Pakistan
Moenjodaro, located in Sindh province in south Pakistan near the city of Larkana, is one of the most stunning ancient cities of the world. It's also the largest ancient city of Pakistan. With many excavated structures including buildings made of mud and baked bricks, a palace and a large pillared hall, this site takes visitors into the world of the Indus civilization. An interpretive museum shows visitors what civilization was like in the area thousands of years ago, during the time period between 3000 to 1700 BC when Moenjodaro was occupied. Along with numerous samples of pottery, statues and other artifacts, researchers have also found examples of the Indus script here, a mysterious language yet to be deciphered.
Travel to The Archaeological Ruins of Harappa in Pakistan
Once surrounded by a walled fortification, Harappa underwent extensive excavation in the 1920s. Excavations continue to be carried out every spring at the site, which lies approximately halfway between Multan and Lahore in the Punjab area of eastern Pakistan. The once-bustling ancient town contains ruins of some of the largest ancient buildings discovered at any Indus Valley site.
See the Unique Pottery of Kot Diji, Pakistan
Famous for its sophisticated pottery, Kot Diji sits between Ranipur and Khairpur on the highway from Hyderabad. Kot Diji dates to 2,800 B.C. It has two parts: one section on the high ground was once a citadel where the ruling elite lived, while the outer area, on lower ground, was formerly inhabited by everyday workers. Home to a different ancient civilization that eventually was overrun by the Indus Valley culture, excavations at the Kot Diji site have uncovered unique pottery and statuary found nowhere else.
Traveling to Mehrgarh, the Oldest Civilization in Pakistan
Home to the oldest civilization in Pakistan, Mehrgarh dates to as far back as 7,000 B.C. The site exhibits some of the earliest evidence of farming in South Asia. Located in the district Kachhi at the entrance to the Bolan Pass near Sibi, this was one of the original sites of the Indus Valley Civilization. A museum filled with artifacts from the excavation site has been established in nearby Sibi and is well worth a visit.
Bridget Coila - I'm a cell and molecular biologist, freelance writer and photographer currently living in Beijing, China. I'm fascinated by science, ...
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