[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989) › v1.c6.s2.t1.3 # An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c6.s2.t1.3 An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c6.s2.t1.3 - **Language:** English ### [v1.c6.s2.t1.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c6.s2.t1.3) The earliest evidence for the zebu dates back to \*c.\* 3500 B.C. in the Quetta valley and the Zhob region in Baluchistan. The Harappa sites (\*c.\* 2000 B.C.) \[4.9\] have also yielded bones of cattle (humped and humpless) in addition to depictions on seals and pottery. The humpless cattle are traced back to \*primigenius\* (aurochs) cattle originally from w. Asia, but the origins of the zebu remain problematic. Its ancestors may have been the Pleistocene humped cattle of India, \*Bos namadicus\*, bones of which have been found at sites along the Narmada and Godavari, and at Mohenjo-daro and LANGHNAJ. Theories tracing its origin to an African wild race of \*Bos\* or the wild ox of Burma and Malaysia (\*Bos banteng\*) remain unsubstantiated. An indigenous origin is also proposed, because \*Bos indicus\* is believed to have some gaur blood and is found in several very early prehistoric sites, e.g. ADAMGARH. Pilgrim, 1939, considered \*Bos acutifrons\* of the Siwaliks as a possible ancestor of both \*Bos primigenius\* and \*Bos namadicus\*. Evidence suggests a connection between the former and \*Bos indicus\*, but these issues must await further data from the intermediate regions, as the original centre of domestication in the Old World has not yet been established. - [Previous: v1.c6.s2.t1.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c6.s2.t1.2) - [Next: v1.c6.s2.t2.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c6.s2.t2.1) - [Up: v1.c6.s2.t1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c6.s2.t1) ## Linked texts (3) - [Mohenjo-daro](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.mohenjo-daro) - [Langhnaj](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.langhnaj) - [Adamgarh](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.adamgarh) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c6.s2.t1.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c6.s2.t1.3) · Pramāṇa