Prehistoric India to 1000 B.C. c11.12

c11.12

In his explorations in Baluchistan these problems of climate and population were, of course, much before Sir Aurel Stein’s eyes, and he was able to identify a large series of artificial stone-built dams and terraces, known locally in Jhalawan as gabarbands, clearly designed to aid the irrigation of fields. The date of these is unknown, but, as Stein remarks, they must reflect not only climatic conditions with a greater rainfall, but also a large population to provide the necessary labour for their construction. In the Mashkai Valley a particularly well-preserved pair of massive, stone-faced dams were found, 16 yards apart and designed to contain and guide flood-water coming from the hills above; and these were associated with terraced fields. Near the Lakorian Pass, farther to the north, a most impressive irrigation work was found which was in fact a huge barrage, still standing up to 12 feet high, and having a total length of 348 yards, constructed in such a way as to impound a considerable reservoir of water behind it. The dam had a well-built stone facing containing blocks up to 4 by 3 by 2½ feet in size, and was backed by an earthen ramp. Even though the age and culture of these works are still unknown, their presence is important in indicating greater rainfall in antiquity, and it is by no means improbable that they do, in fact, date back to the prehistoric occupation of the Baluchi Hills.