New Discoveries at Mehrgarh Redefine South Asia’s Agricultural Origins

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Posted by newadmin on 2025-04-25 08:47:49 |

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Recent archaeological breakthroughs have reshaped our understanding of Mehrgarh, a key Neolithic site in Balochistan, Pakistan. Once believed to be among the world’s earliest farming communities, dating back to 8000 BCE, new radiocarbon dating methods now place its agricultural beginnings between 5223 and 4914 BCE. This revised timeline challenges long-held views about the independent emergence of agriculture in the Indus Valley.

Mehrgarh, discovered in 1974 by Jean-François and Catherine Jarrige, lies on the Kacchi Plain near the Bolan Pass. Excavations revealed early evidence of farming and settlement, previously thought to mark the dawn of agriculture in South Asia. However, new dating techniques using tooth enamel have produced more accurate results than earlier charcoal-based methods, revealing a more recent and dynamic Neolithic occupation.

These findings suggest agriculture may have spread to South Asia from regions like Iran or Central Asia, rather than developing independently. Mehrgarh, therefore, could represent a later stage in the agricultural diffusion process.

The delayed appearance of pottery—after 4650 BCE—despite access to the necessary resources, raises intriguing questions about cultural preferences. Additionally, similarities with Neolithic sites in southeastern Iran hint at broader regional interactions.

This discovery urges further exploration of lesser-known sites in eastern Rajasthan, Haryana, and the Vindhya hills, potentially expanding our understanding of early farming across the subcontinent. The evolving narrative of Mehrgarh underscores the complexity of South Asia’s prehistoric development.

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