Prof R K Ganjoo
Ignoring the stray findings of stone age culture in the valley, the convincing and well-studied evidences of unique Neolithic culture in Burzahom and Gufkral loudly establish the habitation of the valley about 5000 years ago. Prominent Neolithic sites like Burzahom (Srinagar), Gufkral (Tral), Knispur (Baramulla), Kuladur (Baramulla), and Khan Saheb (Budgam) have yielded evidence of both aceramic and ceramic phases supplementing a new economy based on food production and the domestication of animals. The uniqueness of Neolithic culture of Kashmir lies in the gradual evolution from pit-dwellers to mud-brick houses reflecting their gradual adaptability to the climate in the valley.The circular and rectangular types of pits with wide bases and narrow tops dug into the Karewa deposits are featured with frequent occurrence of red ochre paste on the floors.Pits at Burzahom, Gufkral and Swat Valley were believed to be shelters during the cold winters, with people residing above ground in the summers and based on the discovery of stone tools, potsherds, hearths, charcoal, ash, and landing steps in these pits have been interpreted as Neolithic dwellings. Absence of cultivated cereals from Neolithic Period IA of Kashmir valley indicate the subsistence of people largely on hunting and food gathering, whereas domestication of sheep, goats, and dogs, started at the end of the aceramic period.Cultivation of wheat, barley, and lentils commenced at the later phase of Period IA (Period IA- Aceramic Neolithic Calibrated date 2787- 2350 BCE)and domesticatian of animals and cultivation of selected crops gradually increased towards the late Neolithic period along with hunting.
Archaeologists, based on evidences, believe that Kashmir had distinctive geographical advantage to become the meeting ground of the great civilizations – Chinese, Central Asian, West Asian and Indian – as it maintained contacts through several passes with China toward east, Central Asia towards north, Afghanistan and Iran towards northwest and Indian sub-continent towards south. Climatic amelioration around 5kyr (5000yrs BP) in Kashmir attracted the Neolithic people of the neighbouring territories to settle here. Striking affinity of Kashmir Neolithic, which began around 2900BC, with the Neolithic cultures of China, Russia, Iran, West Asia and Central Asia is not surprising. Dwelling of Kashmir Neolithic people in pits and bone tools have parallels in the Neolithic history of China, Russia, Central Asia and Iran. Archaeologists find that perforated stone harvesters found at Neolithic Guflkral (Kashmir) originated in China, the dog burial at Burzahom (Kashmir) was a common practice in China, red-painted burials at Burzahom draw parallels from China, Japan, Russia and West Asia, and the hair pin found at Gufkral actually originated in Mediterranean world and spread to Persian Gulf, Caucasus to the Indus. Crops, namely wheat, barley, lentil, pea, almond, walnuts, peach, apricot, of Kashmir Neolithic originated in China, Central Asia and West Asia. Linguists relate the Kashmiri language to Shina spoken in North West Frontiers, with morphological similarity to Sindhi and Lahanda. The general consensus among linguists is that Kashmiri language belongs to the Dardic branch of the Indo-Aryan family.
The material evidence collected from the sites of Burzahom and Gufkral confirm that the inhabitants had close affinity to the people of Harappan Culture flourishing in the subcontinent until the discovery of Mehargarh in 1974. Mehargarh, a primitive Neolithic period settlement, located in Baluchistan, Pakistan, adjoins Indus River valley and Kacchi Plain and hold significance in culture and economy of the region during Neolithic period. Aceramic Period-I of Mehargarh was characterized by the earliest evidence of agriculture, farming and permanent settlement in South Asia pointing at the stable occupation. Close resemblance of material and tradition of adoring figurines reflects that the tradition travelled from Kacchi plain of Baluchistan to alluvial plains of Indus River valley and has continuity in adoption at Harappa.
Historical records of early centuries suggest that the Jhelum River gorge at Baramulla District served as major entry point into the Kashmir Valley from the west, providing shortest distance to enter Himalayas from Punjab region as well as into Central Asia. However, there are good reasons to suppose that this could have been the possible route used during the prehistoric periods as well. Archaeobotanical evidence from Neolithic Kanispur. establishes the introduction of agricultural packages from Mehargarh in Baluchistan (around 5000BC) and Sheri Khan Tarakai (around 4000BC) lying west of the entrance to northern Kashmir.
The Neolithic culture of Kashmir, in the lap of Himalaya, preserves sufficient evidences of amalgamation of civilizations from surroundings which were attracted by the favourbale climatic and geographical conditions supporting agriculture and horticulture for a progressive sedentary colonization.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
