A journey through the history of Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh
KASHMIR
THROUGH AGES
Acerca de
The Pre-Historic Era - Neolithic Period
The term “Neolithic” is a Greek word meaning, Neo-New and Lithic-Stone. So Neolithic means new stone age. By 3000BC due to climatic change and influx of people from the neighbouring areas armed with effective hunting techniques, the valley of Kashmir entered into the Neolithic Age (new stone age). The remains of which have been found at different places in the valley. The main characteristics of the culture were domestication of plants and animals, manufacture of ground stone tools, emergence of village communities and introduction of pottery. No doubt dozens of sites have been identified in Kashmir of the period, but only two, Burzahom and Gufkral have been excavated and highlighted so far. The archeologists have divided the Neolithic culture of Kashmir into three phases:-
· 2800 to 2250 BC.
· 2250 to 2000 BC.
· 2000 to 1500 BC.
Pot, excavated from Burzahom with painting
With changes in the environment and ecology soon after Palaeolithic times, there dawned a more comfortable environment in Kashmir which resulted in the mushrooming of Neolithic culture. A new stone tool industry emerged along with the introduction of agricultural practices and the domestication of plants and animals in addition to the manufacture of different types of pottery. The Neolithic culture of Kashmir is represented nearly by four dozen archaeological sites dotting the landscape of Kashmir through its length and breadth. The first Neolithic settlement of Kashmir is reported at Burzahom. They also reported a settlement at Nunar (Ganderbal), from where at a depth of seven feet, a Neolithic level was found resembling that of Burzahom Neolithic deposit.
Subsequent investigations throughout the Jhelum valley, from Anantnag to Pampur, led to the discovery of Neolithic remains at nine sites including Begagund, Gufkral, Hariparigom, Jayadevi-Udar, Olchibag, Pampur, Panzgom, Sombur and Thajiwor. The cultural assemblage from these sites include pottery—coarse grey, burnished, combed and gritty red ware, mace heads and celts. Among these sites, Gufkral and Olchibag revealed pit dwellings. These were also noticed at Sempur. Megaliths of Burzahom type were noticed at Begagund, Gufkral, Hariparigom and Pampur. Pit dwellings were also noticed at a site on Damodar Udar, some 10 kilometers South-West of Srinagar. A polished stone axe and a harvester was reported to be found from Gurahoma-Sangri, on a high terrace near Wular Lake resembling the corresponding types found at Burzahom. Typical stone tools and pottery of the Neolithic period, and megalithic stones were found from many archeological sites in Kashmir. A distinct ceramic industry was reported from these sites, comprising ochreous red ware, burnished ware, coarse grey ware, combed ware and gritty red ware. A lithic industry marked by huge chopper-like discoidal cores, borers, flake knives and scrapers was found associated with the typical Neolithic wares.
Burzahom Stone Drawings
The Neolithic sites in Kashmir possess aceramic (without pottery) as also ceramic phases of occupation. The aceramic and ceramic Neolithic phenomena was reported from the sites like Kuladur (Baramulla) and Khan Sahab (Budgam). Besides the above, aceramic phase of Neolithic culture was reported from Pyathpathur (Baramulla), Huin, Malpur, Batachar and Nilnag. The stone industry represented at these sites includes thermally fractured stones and tools made on flakes and cores along with grinders and pounders. The tools typically associated with the aceramic phase of Neolithic period from these sites are backed knives, elongated parallel-sided double scrapers and waisted tools.
During the first phase the economy of the people appears to have been based on farming, stock raising and hunting. Bones of bear, sheep, goat, wolf have been obtained. The people used tools and weapons of bone and stone. Of these tools, points, needles harpoons and scrappers were found. The stone tools like axes, drills, picks, pistols were obtained. The cereals, grains of wheat, barley and lentils were recovered. The people lived in pits but the absence of hearths inside the pits indicate that they were used only for living, while plastered floors, hearths and shallower pits too were recovered. Of these shallower pits with painted floors were used as storage bins.
In the second phase there was introduction of indigenous handmade pottery. The main pottery included long necked jar, bowls and basins. Besides the plants of the period witnessed the introduction of common pea. The remains of peach, walnut and apricots too were recovered from Burzahom.
The last phase of the period in Kashmir exhibits both continuity and change. Underground pit and chamber dwelling was abundant, rather on ground dwelling units of mud and brick were unearthed. Besides sheep goat bones of pig, fish, horse have been obtained. Along with cultivation of wheat, barley, lentil, pea there appeared introduction of some fruits like grapes vine and almonds. The tools of stone and bones continued of which points, arrowhead, awls, harpoons etc were found. In addition, terracotta bangles and cowry shells were obtained. Excavations at Burzahom have furnished evidence regarding burial practice. The burials were found within the settlements. These were oval in outline and were dug out either in house floor or compounds. The sides of these graves were found plastered with lime. Burials of some animals like dog, wolf was also found. The animal burials indicate that the burying of pet animals was a common feature of the period.
Burzahom Excavations Site
Burzahom Burial Practice
The last phase of this period in Kashmir exhibits both continuity and change. Underground pit and chamber dwelling was abundant, rather on ground dwelling units of mud and brick were unearthed. Besides sheep and goat, bones of pig, fish, horse have been obtained. Along with cultivation of wheat, barley, lentil, pea, there appeared introduction of some fruits like grapes, vine and almonds. The tools of stone and bones continued of which points, arrowhead, awls, harpoons etc were found. In addition, terracotta bangles and cowry shells were obtained. Excavations at Burzahom have furnished evidence regarding burial practice.
The burials were found within the settlements. These were oval in outline and were dug out either in house floor or compounds. The sides of these graves were found plastered with lime. Burials of some animals like dogs and wolves were also found. The animal burials indicate that the burying of pet animals was a common feature of the period.
The period after Neolithic was of Megalithic culture of which indications have been found at Burzahom, Gufkral, Hariparigam, Begund, Pahalgam, Tarakpure, Somber, Pampore and Dadasara. The main feature of the period was Menhir type of large stones which was later on changed into tombs to commemorate the memory of their tribes. Since then the man's march of civilization extended its relations with neighboring territories, whose political, economic and cultural traditions changed the whole scenario of the valley and it passed from pre to proto historical period.
Many scholars believe that the earliest human settlements in Kashmir date back to the Neolithic age. This fact has been scientifically established by putting the human skeletons found in Burzhom (near Srinagar) to carbon dating test. These findings place the human settlements in Kashmir around 2300-1500 BCE. These "skeletons have a corporeal resemblance to the skeletons of a significant portion of the contemporary Kashmiri population." Though, some findings in Shopian District date the human beings in the Valley to the Upper Paleolithic period.
Kashmir valley is dotted with pre-historic pilgrimage centres and ancient ruins of Hindu temples and Buddhist Stupas and Viharas. The imposing structures of these ruins, as seen today, establish the fact that since times immemorial, Kashmir has been an epicentre of ancient Indian civilisation. Two great Indic religions, namely, Hinduism and Buddhism, thrived here and interacted with each other in a manner that affected their outlook on spiritual and temporal matters. The tall snow-covered mountains, icy streams, lush green meadows, resplendent water bodies, its splendid isolation and seclusion, and above all its temperate climate provided an ideal environment for deeper spiritual introspection and examination of existential realities. The evolution of pure monistic philosophy of Shaivism, known as Trika Shastra, is a unique product of this environment. Kashmiri Sufism, that emerged centuries later and barely survived the onslaught of rabid Islam can also be attributed to the same environment.
References:
1. Kashmir its Aborigines and their Exodus by Colonel Tej K Tikoo Pg 24.
2. Kashmir its Pre-Historic Period by Dr. Manzoor Ahmad, Dept of History, University of Kashmir
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burzahom_archaeological_site