Home Region:  Pakistan (South Asia)

Kachi Plain - Pre-Urban Period

3200 BCE 2500 BCE
D G SC WF RG EQ 2020  pk_kachi_pre_urban / PkPreUr
Preceding Entity: Add one more here.
4000 BCE 3200 BCE Kachi Plain - Chalcolithic (pk_kachi_ca)    [continuity]

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.
2500 BCE 2100 BCE Kachi Plain - Urban Period I (pk_kachi_urban_1)    [continuity]

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  General Description   The Pre-Urban period in the Indus Valley, also known as the Early Harappan or Early Indus, started around 3200 and ended around 2600 BCE. Here we extend it to include the transitional century or so between the Early and the Mature Harappan. This period was characterized by the spread of farming communities across the Indus Basin, reaching as far as the Upper Ganga-Yamuna Doab in modern-day North India. Overall, this was not a period of great innovation, but precursors of writing appear to have emerged at this time, and, together with the appearance of seals and weights, these point to a shift in organizational complexity. [1]
Population and political organization
No population estimates could be found in the literature. There is also no clear picture of political organization at this time - seals have been found in relevant archaeological contexts, but the existence of a bureaucratic apparatus remains unlikely. [2]

[1]: (McIntosh 2008, 67-72) 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.

[2]: A. Ceccarelli, personal communication to E. Cioni, February 2017.

General Variables
Identity and Location
Temporal Bounds
Political and Cultural Relations
Language
Religion
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale
Hierarchical Complexity
Professions
Bureaucracy Characteristics
Law
Specialized Buildings: polity owned
Transport Infrastructure
Special-purpose Sites
Information / Writing System
Information / Kinds of Written Documents
Information / Money
Information / Postal System
Information / Measurement System
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications
Military use of Metals
Projectiles
Handheld weapons
Animals used in warfare
Armor
Naval technology
Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.
Religion Variables Coding in Progress.
Crisis Consequences Coding in Progress.
Power Transitions Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range Kachi Plain - Pre-Urban Period (pk_kachi_pre_urban) was in:
 (3200 BCE 2501 BCE)   Kachi Plain
Home NGA: Kachi Plain
General Variables
Identity and Location Kachi Plain - Pre-Urban Period (pk_kachi_pre_urban)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 42 R Confident Expert 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Original Name Kachi Plain - Pre-Urban Period Confident Expert 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Capital unknown Confident Expert 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Alternative Name Early Harappan Confident Expert 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Temporal Bounds Kachi Plain - Pre-Urban Period (pk_kachi_pre_urban)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Duration [3200 BCE ➜ 2500 BCE] Confident Expert
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Political and Cultural Relations Kachi Plain - Pre-Urban Period (pk_kachi_pre_urban)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Suprapolity Relations unknown [---] Confident Expert 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Supracultural Entity Indus Civilisation Confident Expert 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Succeeding Entity Kachi Plain - Urban Period I Confident Expert 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity continuity Confident Expert 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Preceding Entity
4000 BCE 3200 BCE
Kachi Plain - Chalcolithic (pk_kachi_ca)   [continuity]  Confident Expert
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Succeeding Entity
2500 BCE 2100 BCE
Kachi Plain - Urban Period I (pk_kachi_urban_1)   [continuity]  Confident Expert
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Degree of Centralization quasi-polity Confident Expert 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Language Kachi Plain - Pre-Urban Period (pk_kachi_pre_urban)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Linguistic Family unknown Confident Expert 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Language unknown Confident Expert 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Religion Kachi Plain - Pre-Urban Period (pk_kachi_pre_urban)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Kachi Plain - Pre-Urban Period (pk_kachi_pre_urban)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Population of the Largest Settlement [1,100 to 4,600] people Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Largest Communication Distance - Undecided 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Hierarchical Complexity Kachi Plain - Pre-Urban Period (pk_kachi_pre_urban)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Settlement Hierarchy [2 to 3] Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Religious Level 1 Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Military Level [0 to 1] Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Administrative Level [1 to 2] Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Professions Kachi Plain - Pre-Urban Period (pk_kachi_pre_urban)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Soldier Absent Inferred 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Professional Priesthood Present Inferred 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Professional Military Officer Absent Inferred 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Kachi Plain - Pre-Urban Period (pk_kachi_pre_urban)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Merit Promotion Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Full Time Bureaucrat Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Examination System Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Law Kachi Plain - Pre-Urban Period (pk_kachi_pre_urban)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Lawyer Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Judge Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Absent Inferred 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
Court Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Kachi Plain - Pre-Urban Period (pk_kachi_pre_urban)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Market Present Inferred 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Irrigation System Present Inferred 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Food Storage Site Present Inferred 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Drinking Water Supply System Unknown Suspected 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Transport Infrastructure Kachi Plain - Pre-Urban Period (pk_kachi_pre_urban)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Road Unknown Suspected 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Port Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Canal Unknown Suspected 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Bridge Unknown Suspected 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Special-purpose Sites Kachi Plain - Pre-Urban Period (pk_kachi_pre_urban)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Mines or Quarry Unknown Suspected 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Information / Writing System Kachi Plain - Pre-Urban Period (pk_kachi_pre_urban)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Written Record Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Script Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Nonwritten Record Unknown Suspected 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Non Phonetic Writing Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Mnemonic Device Unknown Suspected 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Kachi Plain - Pre-Urban Period (pk_kachi_pre_urban)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Scientific Literature Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Sacred Text Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Religious Literature Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Practical Literature Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Philosophy Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Lists Tables and Classification Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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History Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Fiction Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Calendar Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Information / Money Kachi Plain - Pre-Urban Period (pk_kachi_pre_urban)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Token Present Inferred 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Precious Metal Unknown Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Paper Currency Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Indigenous Coin Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Foreign Coin Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Information / Postal System Kachi Plain - Pre-Urban Period (pk_kachi_pre_urban)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Postal Station Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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General Postal Service Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Courier Absent Inferred 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Information / Measurement System Kachi Plain - Pre-Urban Period (pk_kachi_pre_urban)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Kachi Plain - Pre-Urban Period (pk_kachi_pre_urban)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Stone Walls Mortared Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position Absent Inferred 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Modern Fortification Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Moat Unknown Suspected 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Fortified Camp Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Earth Rampart Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Ditch Unknown Suspected 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Complex Fortification Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Long Wall absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Military use of Metals Kachi Plain - Pre-Urban Period (pk_kachi_pre_urban)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Steel Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Iron Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Bronze Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Projectiles Kachi Plain - Pre-Urban Period (pk_kachi_pre_urban)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Tension Siege Engine Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Sling Siege Engine Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Sling Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Self Bow Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Javelin Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Handheld Firearm Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Crossbow Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Composite Bow Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Atlatl Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Handheld weapons Kachi Plain - Pre-Urban Period (pk_kachi_pre_urban)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
War Club Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Sword Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Spear Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Polearm Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Dagger Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Battle Axe Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Animals used in warfare Kachi Plain - Pre-Urban Period (pk_kachi_pre_urban)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Horse Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Elephant Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Donkey Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Dog Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Camel Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Armor Kachi Plain - Pre-Urban Period (pk_kachi_pre_urban)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wood Bark Etc Unknown Suspected 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Shield Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Scaled Armor Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Plate Armor Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Limb Protection Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Leather Cloth Unknown Suspected 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Laminar Armor Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Helmet Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Chainmail Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Breastplate Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Naval technology Kachi Plain - Pre-Urban Period (pk_kachi_pre_urban)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Military Vessel Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service Absent Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Kachi Plain - Pre-Urban Period (pk_kachi_pre_urban)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad Unknown Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary Unknown Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic Unknown Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life Unknown Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward Unknown Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners Unknown Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted Unknown Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife Unknown Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites Unknown Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers Unknown Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain Unknown Confident 3200 BCE  2500 BCE
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Human Sacrifice Kachi Plain - Pre-Urban Period (pk_kachi_pre_urban)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Crisis Cases
View all Crisis Cases
Instability Data
Power Transitions
View all Power Transitions