Discovering Rehman Dheri: A Pre-Harappan Gem
Rehman Dheri, sometimes spelled Rahman Dheri, is a fascinating Pre-Harappan archaeological site. Located near Dera Ismail Khan in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, this ancient site dates back to 3300-1900 BC. It’s one of the oldest urban centers in South Asia, highlighting its historical significance. Located 22 kilometers north of Dera Ismail Khan, it stands on the Tentative List for future World Heritage Sites in Pakistan.
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Location and Structure
Rehman Dheri sits on the Gomal River Plain, within the Indus river watershed. It’s near where the Zhob River meets the Gomal River. Since its earliest occupation, a massive wall, constructed from dressed clay blocks, has enclosed the site. This low, rectangular mound covers around 22 hectares and rises 4.5 meters above the surrounding fields.
Interestingly, nearby lies the unexcavated Harappan site of Hisham Dheri. This proximity suggests that Kot Dijian communities, like those at Rehman Dheri, and Harappan communities coexisted in some regions. Additionally, the site of Gumla, Pakistan, is close by, further emphasizing the area’s archaeological richness.
Cultural Significance
The earliest known site of this culture is Kunal in Haryana, dating back to 4000 BC. Initially, Rehman Dheri was considered the oldest example until Kunal was found to predate it. Rehman Dheri remains significant as a key pre-Harappan site. The site’s cultural heritage includes artifacts that trace their ancestry to Harappa.
Archaeological Finds
The mound at Rehman Dheri features a grid-like street network, with visible walls marking individual buildings and avenues. Small-scale industrial areas, including eroded kilns and slag, have been found within the site. These findings indicate advanced town planning for its time.
The site has yielded pottery, stone and metal tools, and beads made from lapis lazuli and turquoise. Terracotta figurines from Rehman Dheri resemble early forms from Gumla and Mehrgarh IV but later developed a unique style. Seals made from ivory, steatite, and shell have also been discovered. Notably, some steatite seals, designed to hang on strings, became common in later Indus cities.
Phases of Occupation
Rehman Dheri’s archaeological sequence spans over 1,400 years, starting around 3300 BC. The site went through distinct periods, including phases from 3300-2850 BC, 2850-2500 BC, and 2500-1900 BC. Formal planning of the settlement began in its earliest phase, with subsequent stages expanding the plan. Despite limited excavation of the lower levels, it’s believed that Rehman Dheri’s occupation may be older than currently documented.
By the middle of the third millennium BC, at the dawn of the mature Indus phase, the site was abandoned, with limited reoccupation. Further records from the neighboring Hisham Dheri mound provide additional context. Recent developments have disrupted the Early Harappan settlement plans.
Tochi-Gomal Cultural Phase
Recent research has uncovered the Tochi-Gomal Cultural Phase in the Gomal Plain of Northwest Pakistan, with Rehman Dheri being a part of this sequence. This culture thrived in the Bannu Basin and Dera Ismail Khan region at the end of the Neolithic Age. The Tochi-Gomal Phase coexisted with other regional cultures such as the Ravi Phase in Punjab and the Amri-Nal culture in Sindh.
This phase marked the transition from handmade to wheel-thrown pottery. Inscribed seals and sherds from this period likely influenced the writing system of the mature Indus Civilization. The animals and symbols depicted on the earliest seals found at Rehman Dheri foreshadow those seen in the later Mature Indus Civilization.
Conclusion
Rehman Dheri stands as a testament to the rich pre-Harappan culture and its contributions to South Asia’s archaeological heritage. Its advanced urban planning, diverse artifacts, and connection to other ancient cultures make it a site of immense historical and cultural value. As research continues, Rehman Dheri promises to reveal even more about the early civilizations that once thrived in this region.
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