Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c10.s2.t2.17

v1.c10.s2.t2.17

Mehargarh culture distinctly spread towards the north and the north-east. Clear continuity has been observed in the sites of Sur Jangal and Rana Ghundai of the fifth and fourth millennium BC. Further north, the site of Rehman Dheri is located about 23 km north of Dera Ismail Khan on the Gomal Plains. This is clearly a proto-urban site of the fourth millennium BC, which has its initial settlement in 3500 BC when Amri and Kot Diji settlement appeared in Sind. Apart from Kot Dijian pottery, the site exhibits chert blades, stone tools etc. One drill was found intact in an unifinished carnelian bead. A number of unifinished beads in lapis lazuli, turquoise, carnelian, agate and the lumps of raw material reveal the evidence of its being a manufacturing centre. It might have acted as a trading centre. An ivory seal with depiction of animals and special markings on it are clear precursors of the Harappan tradition and writing.