History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c28.6

v1.c28.6

From the pre-Harappan peasant communities of Baluchistan, some interesting pottery remains with fish paintings have been excavated from Nal (Jhalwan division of Kotat State in Baluchistan). The Nal valley in Baluchistan is about 30 miles long and seven miles broad. It lies in latitude 17°40' North, longitude 60°48' East and is nearly 3834 feet above sea level. Data available on fish paintings from Nal have been brought together and discussed by Hora (1955). From the fish decorations on Nal pottery, there can be little doubt about their generic identification except for a pair of fishes painted on Vase No. 142 of Hargreave's (1929) list. However, their identification at the species level cannot be said to be certain. From the decorations of the hill stream fishes on Nal pottery, it is evident that fast-running clear streams existed in its vicinity. Except for the genus Cyprinion, fishes of the other seven genera out of eight painted (Garra, Labeo, Crossochilus, Tor, Nemachilus Botia, Glyptothorax) are well represented in the perennial streams of Himalayas.