Home Region: Pakistan (South Asia)

Kachi Plain - Ceramic Neolithic

5500 BCE 4000 BCE

D G SC WF R

EQ 2020 pk_kachi_lnl / PkCeraN

Preceding Entity: Add one more here.

7500 BCE 5500 BCE Kachi Plain - Aceramic Neolithic (pk_kachi_enl) [continuity]

Succeeding Entity:

No Polity found. Add one here.

General Description

The Kachi Plain, in modern-day Pakistan, is hemmed in on two of its three sides by the mountains of Baluchistan, while its southeastern side opens up to the Indus Valley. ^[1] The earliest evidence for agriculture here was found in Mehrgarh and dates to 7000 BCE. By 5500, the people of Mehrgarh had begun to rely more on bovine and ovicaprine pastoralism for their meat, as opposed to hunting. Starting from around this time, there is also an increase in the number of known farming settlements in the region, most notably Kili Ghul Mohammad, Anjira, Siah Damb, and Rana Gundai. There is evidence for an increased range of craft activities and the first granaries appeared in Mehrgarh, as well as, perhaps, small-scale irrigation. ^[2]
Population and political organization
It is not possible to give an accurate estimate of the region’s population at this time, ^[3] and the size of occupied Mehrgarh is uncertain, as the population shifted over time and part of the site has been cut away by the Bolan River. ^[4] Similarly, the literature does not provide many clues as to the political organization of Mehrgarh or any other site in the region during the period, although the appearance of granaries at Mehrgarh may suggest increasing social complexity. ^[5]

[1]: (Jarrige & Enault 1976, 29) Jarrige, Jean-François, and Jean-François Enault. 1976. “Fouilles de Pirak - Baluchistan.” Arts Asiatiques 32 (1): 29-70. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/Q32UJUPX.

[2]: (McIntosh 2008, 57-61) McIntosh, Jane. 2008. The Ancient Indus Valley. Santa Barbara; Denver; Oxford: ABC-CLIO. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/5P92SHE8.

[3]: (Possehl 1999, 472) Possehl, Gregory L. 1999. Indus Age: The Beginnings. New Delhi: Oxford & IBH Publishing. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/IWNUD7IH.

[4]: (Jarrige 2013, 135-154) Jarrige, J.-F. 2013. Mehrgarh Neolithic. Paris: Éditions de Boccard. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/4MKZA34B.

[5]: (McIntosh 2008, 61) McIntosh, Jane. 2008. The Ancient Indus Valley. Santa Barbara; Denver; Oxford: ABC-CLIO. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/5P92SHE8.

General Variables

Identity and Location

1 Utm Zone

1 Original Name

1 Capital

2 Alternative Name

Temporal Bounds

1 Duration

Political and Cultural Relations

1 Suprapolity Relations

1 Succeeding Entity

1 Relationship to preceding Entity

1 Polity Succession

1 Degree of Centralization

Language

1 Linguistic Family

1 Language

Religion

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale

1 Population of the Largest Settlement

1 Polity Territory

1 Polity Population

1 Largest Communication Distance

Hierarchical Complexity

1 Settlement Hierarchy

1 Religious Level

1 Military Level

1 Administrative Level

Professions

1 Professional Soldier

1 Professional Priesthood

1 Professional Military Officer

1 Occupational Complexity

Bureaucracy Characteristics

1 Specialized Government Building

1 Merit Promotion

1 Full Time Bureaucrat

1 Examination System

Law

1 Professional Lawyer

1 Judge

1 Formal Legal Code

1 Court

Specialized Buildings: polity owned

1 Market

2 Irrigation System

1 Food Storage Site

1 Drinking Water Supply System

Transport Infrastructure

1 Road

1 Port

1 Canal

1 Bridge

Special-purpose Sites

1 Mines or Quarry

Information / Writing System

1 Written Record

1 Script

1 Phonetic Alphabetic Writing

1 Nonwritten Record

1 Non Phonetic Writing

1 Mnemonic Device

Information / Kinds of Written Documents

1 Scientific Literature

1 Sacred Text

1 Religious Literature

1 Practical Literature

1 Philosophy

1 Lists Tables and Classification

1 History

1 Fiction

1 Calendar

Information / Money

1 Token

1 Precious Metal

1 Paper Currency

1 Indigenous Coin

1 Foreign Coin

Information / Postal System

1 Postal Station

1 General Postal Service

1 Courier

Information / Measurement System

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications

1 Wooden Palisade

1 Stone Walls Non Mortared

1 Stone Walls Mortared

1 Settlements in a Defensive Position

1 Modern Fortification

1 Moat

1 Fortified Camp

1 Earth Rampart

1 Ditch

1 Complex Fortification

1 Long Wall

Military use of Metals

1 Steel

1 Iron

1 Bronze

Projectiles

1 Tension Siege Engine

1 Sling Siege Engine

1 Sling

1 Self Bow

1 Javelin

1 Handheld Firearm

1 Gunpowder Siege Artillery

1 Crossbow

1 Composite Bow

1 Atlatl

Handheld weapons

1 War Club

1 Sword

1 Spear

1 Polearm

1 Dagger

1 Battle Axe

Animals used in warfare

1 Horse

1 Elephant

1 Donkey

1 Dog

1 Camel

Armor

1 Wood Bark Etc

1 Shield

1 Scaled Armor

1 Plate Armor

1 Limb Protection

1 Leather Cloth

1 Laminar Armor

1 Helmet

1 Chainmail

1 Breastplate

Naval technology

1 Specialized Military Vessel

1 Small Vessels Canoes Etc

1 Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.

Religion Variables Coding in Progress.

Crisis Consequence Cases Coding in Progress.

Power Transitions Coding in Progress.

Instability Events Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range	Kachi Plain - Ceramic Neolithic (pk_kachi_lnl) was in:
(5500 BCE 4001 BCE)	Kachi Plain

Home NGA: Kachi Plain

General Variables

Identity and Location Kachi Plain - Ceramic Neolithic (pk_kachi_lnl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Utm Zone	42 R Expert	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Original Name	Kachi Plain - Ceramic Neolithic Expert	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Capital	None (Absent Capital) Expert	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Alternative Name	Mehrgarh II A Expert	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Alternative Name	Mehrgarh IIB Expert	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Temporal Bounds Kachi Plain - Ceramic Neolithic (pk_kachi_lnl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More
Duration	[5500 BCE ➜ 4000 BCE] Expert
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Political and Cultural Relations Kachi Plain - Ceramic Neolithic (pk_kachi_lnl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Suprapolity Relations	none Expert	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Succeeding Entity	Kachi Plain - Chalcolithic Expert	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity	continuity Expert	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Preceding Entity 7500 BCE 5500 BCE	Kachi Plain - Aceramic Neolithic (pk_kachi_enl) [continuity] Expert
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Degree of Centralization	quasi-polity Expert	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Language Kachi Plain - Ceramic Neolithic (pk_kachi_lnl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Linguistic Family	unknown Expert	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Language	unknown Expert	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Religion Kachi Plain - Ceramic Neolithic (pk_kachi_lnl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale Kachi Plain - Ceramic Neolithic (pk_kachi_lnl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Population of the Largest Settlement	[400 to 600] people	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Polity Territory	- Undecided	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Polity Population	- Suspected	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Largest Communication Distance	- Undecided	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Hierarchical Complexity Kachi Plain - Ceramic Neolithic (pk_kachi_lnl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Settlement Hierarchy	[1 to 2]	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Religious Level	1	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Military Level	1	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Administrative Level	1	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Professions Kachi Plain - Ceramic Neolithic (pk_kachi_lnl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Soldier	Absent Inferred	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Professional Priesthood	Absent Inferred	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Professional Military Officer	Absent Inferred	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Occupational Complexity	Uncoded Undecided	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Kachi Plain - Ceramic Neolithic (pk_kachi_lnl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Government Building	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Merit Promotion	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Full Time Bureaucrat	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Examination System	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Law Kachi Plain - Ceramic Neolithic (pk_kachi_lnl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Lawyer	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Judge	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Formal Legal Code	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Court	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Kachi Plain - Ceramic Neolithic (pk_kachi_lnl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Market	Present Inferred	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Irrigation System	Present Disputed	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Irrigation System	Absent Disputed	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Food Storage Site	Present Inferred	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Drinking Water Supply System	Unknown Suspected	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Transport Infrastructure Kachi Plain - Ceramic Neolithic (pk_kachi_lnl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Road	Unknown Suspected	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Port	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Canal	Unknown Suspected	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Bridge	Unknown Suspected	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Special-purpose Sites Kachi Plain - Ceramic Neolithic (pk_kachi_lnl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Mines or Quarry	Present Inferred	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Information / Writing System Kachi Plain - Ceramic Neolithic (pk_kachi_lnl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Written Record	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Script	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Nonwritten Record	Unknown Suspected	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Non Phonetic Writing	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Mnemonic Device	Unknown Suspected	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Kachi Plain - Ceramic Neolithic (pk_kachi_lnl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Scientific Literature	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Sacred Text	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Religious Literature	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Practical Literature	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Philosophy	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Lists Tables and Classification	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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History	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Fiction	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Calendar	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Information / Money Kachi Plain - Ceramic Neolithic (pk_kachi_lnl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Token	Present Inferred	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Precious Metal	Unknown Suspected	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Paper Currency	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Indigenous Coin	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Foreign Coin	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Information / Postal System Kachi Plain - Ceramic Neolithic (pk_kachi_lnl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Postal Station	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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General Postal Service	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Courier	Absent Inferred	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Information / Measurement System Kachi Plain - Ceramic Neolithic (pk_kachi_lnl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications Kachi Plain - Ceramic Neolithic (pk_kachi_lnl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wooden Palisade	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Stone Walls Mortared	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position	Absent Inferred	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Modern Fortification	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Moat	Unknown Suspected	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Fortified Camp	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Earth Rampart	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Ditch	Unknown Suspected	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Complex Fortification	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Long Wall	absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Military use of Metals Kachi Plain - Ceramic Neolithic (pk_kachi_lnl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Steel	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Iron	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Bronze	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Projectiles Kachi Plain - Ceramic Neolithic (pk_kachi_lnl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Tension Siege Engine	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Sling Siege Engine	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Sling	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Self Bow	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Javelin	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Handheld Firearm	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Crossbow	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Composite Bow	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Atlatl	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Handheld weapons Kachi Plain - Ceramic Neolithic (pk_kachi_lnl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
War Club	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Sword	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Spear	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Polearm	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Dagger	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Battle Axe	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Animals used in warfare Kachi Plain - Ceramic Neolithic (pk_kachi_lnl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Horse	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Elephant	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Donkey	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Dog	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Camel	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Armor Kachi Plain - Ceramic Neolithic (pk_kachi_lnl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wood Bark Etc	Unknown Suspected	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Shield	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Scaled Armor	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Plate Armor	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Limb Protection	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Leather Cloth	Unknown Suspected	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Laminar Armor	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Helmet	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Chainmail	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Breastplate	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Naval technology Kachi Plain - Ceramic Neolithic (pk_kachi_lnl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Military Vessel	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service	Absent	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)

Religion Variables

Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Kachi Plain - Ceramic Neolithic (pk_kachi_lnl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad	Unknown	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary	Unknown	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic	Unknown	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life	Unknown	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward	Unknown	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners	Unknown	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted	Unknown	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife	Unknown	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites	Unknown	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers	Unknown	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain	Unknown	5500 BCE 4000 BCE
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Human Sacrifice Kachi Plain - Ceramic Neolithic (pk_kachi_lnl)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More