Home Region: Pakistan (South Asia)

Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period

1300 BCE 500 BCE

D G SC WF

EQ 2020 pk_kachi_proto_historic / PkProto

Preceding Entity: Add one more here.

[continuity; Post-Urban Period] [continuity] Update here

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] Here, the settlement of Pirak was established not long after the beginning of the second millennium BCE, and it was continuously occupied from that time up until the sixth or seventh century BCE. Here we consider Pirak II and III, that is, the phases of Pirak’s occupation that go from the end of the second millennium to the middle of the first millennium BCE. ^[2] It seems very likely that Pirak was part of a larger assemblage of culturally similar settlements, but, perhaps due to the erosive effects of nearby rivers, only Pirak remains. ^[3] Notable archaeological finds from the site at this time include terracotta seals, horse and camel figurines, and zoomorphic game pieces, and the site’s architecture and agricultural infrastructure is somewhat reminiscent of the Indus Valley Civilization. ^[4]
Population and political organization
Not much appears to be known about Pirak’s political organization, although the retrieval of terracotta seals ^[5] suggests perhaps the existence of some form of bureaucracy.
The scholarly literature does not provide population estimates.

[1]: (Jarrige & Enault 1976, 29) Jean-Francois Jarrige and Jean-Francois Enault. 1976. Fouilles de Pirak. Arts Asiatiques 32: 29-70.

[2]: (Jarrige & Enault 1976, 32-33) Jean-Francois Jarrige and Jean-Francois Enault. 1976. Fouilles de Pirak. Arts Asiatiques 32: 29-70.

[3]: (Jarrige & Enault 1976, 45-46) Jean-Francois Jarrige and Jean-Francois Enault. 1976. Fouilles de Pirak. Arts Asiatiques 32: 29-70.

[4]: (Jarrige & Enault 1976, 33-36) Jean-Francois Jarrige and Jean-Francois Enault. 1976. Fouilles de Pirak. Arts Asiatiques 32: 29-70.

[5]: (Jarrige & Enault 1976, 36) Jean-Francois Jarrige and Jean-Francois Enault. 1976. Fouilles de Pirak. Arts Asiatiques 32: 29-70.

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 Supracultural Entity

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 Polity Territory

1 Polity Population

1 Largest Communication Distance

Hierarchical Complexity

1 Settlement Hierarchy

1 Religious Level

1 Administrative Level

Professions

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

1 Irrigation System

1 Food Storage Site

1 Drinking Water Supply System

Transport Infrastructure

1 Road

1 Port

1 Canal

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

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 Paper Currency

1 Indigenous Coin

1 Foreign Coin

1 Article

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 Earth Rampart

1 Ditch

1 Complex Fortification

1 Long Wall

Military use of Metals

1 Steel

1 Iron

1 Copper

1 Bronze

Projectiles

1 Tension Siege Engine

1 Sling Siege Engine

3 Sling

1 Self Bow

2 Javelin

1 Handheld Firearm

1 Gunpowder Siege Artillery

1 Crossbow

1 Composite Bow

1 Atlatl

Handheld weapons

3 War Club

1 Sword

1 Spear

1 Polearm

1 Dagger

1 Battle Axe

Animals used in warfare

1 Horse

3 Elephant

1 Donkey

1 Dog

3 Camel

Armor

1 Wood Bark Etc

1 Shield

3 Scaled Armor

3 Plate Armor

1 Limb Protection

1 Leather Cloth

1 Laminar Armor

1 Helmet

1 Chainmail

1 Breastplate

Naval technology

1 Specialized Military Vessel

3 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 - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic) was in:
(1300 BCE 551 BCE)	Kachi Plain

Home NGA: Kachi Plain

General Variables

Identity and Location Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Utm Zone	42 R Expert	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Original Name	Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period Expert	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Capital	unknown Expert	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Alternative Name	Pirak II Expert	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Alternative Name	Pirak III Expert	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Temporal Bounds Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More
Duration	[1300 BCE ➜ 500 BCE] Expert
Loading...

Political and Cultural Relations Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Suprapolity Relations	unknown [---] Expert	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Supracultural Entity	uncoded Undecided Expert	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Succeeding Entity	Achaemenid Empire Expert	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Relationship to Preceding Entity	continuity Expert	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Preceding Entity	continuity; Post-Urban Period [continuity] Update here Expert
Loading...

Degree of Centralization	quasi-polity Expert	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Language Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Linguistic Family	unknown Expert	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Language	unknown Expert	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Religion Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)

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

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Polity Territory	- Undecided	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Polity Population	[450 to 1,800] people	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Largest Communication Distance	- Undecided	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Hierarchical Complexity Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Settlement Hierarchy	[1 to 2]	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Religious Level	- Undecided	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Administrative Level	[1 to 2]	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Professions Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)

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

Bureaucracy Characteristics Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Government Building	Absent Inferred	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Merit Promotion	Unknown Suspected	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Full Time Bureaucrat	Unknown Suspected	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Examination System	Unknown Suspected	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Law Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Lawyer	Absent Inferred	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Judge	Absent Inferred	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Formal Legal Code	Unknown Suspected	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Court	Absent Inferred	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Specialized Buildings: polity owned Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Market	Present Inferred	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Irrigation System	Present	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Food Storage Site	Present	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Drinking Water Supply System	Present Inferred	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Transport Infrastructure Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Road	Present Inferred	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Port	Uncoded Undecided	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Canal	Present Inferred	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Special-purpose Sites Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Mines or Quarry	Present Inferred	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Information / Writing System Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Written Record	Absent	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Script	Absent	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Phonetic Alphabetic Writing	Absent	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Nonwritten Record	Present	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Non Phonetic Writing	Absent	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Information / Kinds of Written Documents Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Scientific Literature	Absent	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Sacred Text	Absent	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Religious Literature	Absent	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Practical Literature	Absent	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Philosophy	Absent	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Lists Tables and Classification	Absent	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

History	Absent	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Fiction	Absent	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Calendar	Absent	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Information / Money Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Paper Currency	Absent	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Indigenous Coin	Absent	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Foreign Coin	Absent	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Article	Unknown Suspected	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Information / Postal System Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Postal Station	Unknown Suspected	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

General Postal Service	Unknown Suspected	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Courier	Unknown Suspected	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Information / Measurement System Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)

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

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wooden Palisade	Unknown Suspected	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Stone Walls Non Mortared	Unknown Suspected	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Stone Walls Mortared	Unknown Suspected	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Settlements in a Defensive Position	Unknown Suspected	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Modern Fortification	Absent	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Moat	Unknown Suspected	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Earth Rampart	Unknown Suspected	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Ditch	Unknown Suspected	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Complex Fortification	Unknown Suspected	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Long Wall	absent	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Military use of Metals Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Steel	Absent	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Iron	Present	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Copper	Present	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Bronze	Present	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Projectiles Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Tension Siege Engine	Unknown Suspected	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Sling Siege Engine	Unknown Suspected	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Sling	Unknown Suspected	1300 BCE 801 BCE
Loading...

Sling	Present Inferred	800 BCE
Loading...

Sling	Unknown Suspected	799 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Self Bow	Present	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Javelin	Present Disputed	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Javelin	Absent Disputed	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Handheld Firearm	Absent	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Gunpowder Siege Artillery	Absent	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Crossbow	Unknown Suspected	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Composite Bow	Absent	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Atlatl	Absent	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Handheld weapons Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
War Club	Unknown Suspected	1300 BCE 801 BCE
Loading...

War Club	Present Inferred	800 BCE
Loading...

War Club	Unknown Suspected	799 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Sword	Present	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Spear	Absent Inferred	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Polearm	Absent	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Dagger	Present	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Battle Axe	Present	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Animals used in warfare Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Horse	Present	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Elephant	Unknown Suspected	1300 BCE 801 BCE
Loading...

Elephant	Present Inferred	800 BCE
Loading...

Elephant	Unknown Suspected	799 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Donkey	Present Inferred	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Dog	Unknown Suspected	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Camel	Unknown Suspected	1300 BCE 801 BCE
Loading...

Camel	Present Inferred	800 BCE
Loading...

Camel	Unknown Suspected	799 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Armor Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wood Bark Etc	Unknown Suspected	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Shield	Unknown Suspected	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Scaled Armor	Absent	1300 BCE 801 BCE
Loading...

Scaled Armor	Absent Inferred	800 BCE
Loading...

Scaled Armor	Absent	799 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Plate Armor	Absent	1300 BCE 801 BCE
Loading...

Plate Armor	Absent Inferred	800 BCE
Loading...

Plate Armor	Absent	799 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Limb Protection	Unknown Suspected	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Leather Cloth	Unknown Suspected	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Laminar Armor	Absent	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Helmet	Unknown Suspected	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Chainmail	Absent	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Breastplate	Unknown Suspected	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Naval technology Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Military Vessel	Absent	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Small Vessels Canoes Etc	Unknown Suspected	1300 BCE 801 BCE
Loading...

Small Vessels Canoes Etc	Present Inferred	800 BCE
Loading...

Small Vessels Canoes Etc	Unknown Suspected	799 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service	Absent	1300 BCE 500 BCE
Loading...

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)

Religion Variables

Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)

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

Human Sacrifice Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)

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