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
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 - 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 Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 42 R Confident Expert 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Original Name Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period Confident Expert 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Capital unknown Confident Expert 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Alternative Name Pirak II Confident Expert 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Alternative Name Pirak III Confident Expert 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Temporal Bounds Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Duration [1300 BCE ➜ 500 BCE] Confident Expert
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Political and Cultural Relations Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Suprapolity Relations unknown [---] Confident Expert 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Supracultural Entity uncoded Undecided Expert 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Succeeding Entity Achaemenid Empire Confident Expert 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity continuity Confident Expert 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Preceding Entity
CE
continuity; Post-Urban Period [continuity]    Update here
Confident Expert
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Degree of Centralization quasi-polity Confident Expert 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Language Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Linguistic Family unknown Confident Expert 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Language unknown Confident Expert 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Religion Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Polity Territory - Undecided 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Polity Population [450 to 1,800] people Confident 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Largest Communication Distance - Undecided 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Hierarchical Complexity Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Settlement Hierarchy [1 to 2] Confident 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Religious Level - Undecided 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Administrative Level [1 to 2] Confident 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Professions Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Bureaucracy Characteristics Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building Absent Inferred 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Merit Promotion Unknown Suspected 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Full Time Bureaucrat Unknown Suspected 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Examination System Unknown Suspected 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Law Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Lawyer Absent Inferred 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Judge Absent Inferred 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Unknown Suspected 1300 BCE  500 BCE
Court Absent Inferred 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Market Present Inferred 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Irrigation System Present Confident 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Food Storage Site Present Confident 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Drinking Water Supply System Present Inferred 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Transport Infrastructure Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Road Present Inferred 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Port Uncoded Undecided 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Canal Present Inferred 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Special-purpose Sites Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Mines or Quarry Present Inferred 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Information / Writing System Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Written Record Absent Confident 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Script Absent Confident 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing Absent Confident 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Nonwritten Record Present Confident 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Non Phonetic Writing Absent Confident 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Scientific Literature Absent Confident 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Sacred Text Absent Confident 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Religious Literature Absent Confident 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Practical Literature Absent Confident 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Philosophy Absent Confident 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Lists Tables and Classification Absent Confident 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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History Absent Confident 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Fiction Absent Confident 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Calendar Absent Confident 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Information / Money Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Paper Currency Absent Confident 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Indigenous Coin Absent Confident 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Foreign Coin Absent Confident 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Article Unknown Suspected 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Information / Postal System Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Postal Station Unknown Suspected 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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General Postal Service Unknown Suspected 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Courier Unknown Suspected 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Information / Measurement System Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade Unknown Suspected 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared Unknown Suspected 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Stone Walls Mortared Unknown Suspected 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position Unknown Suspected 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Modern Fortification Absent Confident 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Moat Unknown Suspected 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Earth Rampart Unknown Suspected 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Ditch Unknown Suspected 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Complex Fortification Unknown Suspected 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Long Wall absent Confident 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Military use of Metals Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Steel Absent Confident 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Iron Present Confident 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Copper Present Confident 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Bronze Present Confident 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Projectiles Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Tension Siege Engine Unknown Suspected 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Sling Siege Engine Unknown Suspected 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Sling Unknown Suspected 1300 BCE 801 BCE
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Sling Present Inferred 800 BCE
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Sling Unknown Suspected 799 BCE 500 BCE
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Self Bow Present Confident 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Javelin Present Confident Disputed 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Javelin Absent Confident Disputed 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Handheld Firearm Absent Confident 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery Absent Confident 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Crossbow Unknown Suspected 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Composite Bow Absent Confident 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Atlatl Absent Confident 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Handheld weapons Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
War Club Unknown Suspected 1300 BCE 801 BCE
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War Club Present Inferred 800 BCE
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War Club Unknown Suspected 799 BCE 500 BCE
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Sword Present Confident 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Spear Absent Inferred 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Polearm Absent Confident 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Dagger Present Confident 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Battle Axe Present Confident 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Animals used in warfare Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Horse Present Confident 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Elephant Unknown Suspected 1300 BCE 801 BCE
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Elephant Present Inferred 800 BCE
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Elephant Unknown Suspected 799 BCE 500 BCE
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Donkey Present Inferred 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Dog Unknown Suspected 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Camel Unknown Suspected 1300 BCE 801 BCE
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Camel Present Inferred 800 BCE
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Camel Unknown Suspected 799 BCE 500 BCE
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Armor Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wood Bark Etc Unknown Suspected 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Shield Unknown Suspected 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Scaled Armor Absent Confident 1300 BCE 801 BCE
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Scaled Armor Absent Inferred 800 BCE
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Scaled Armor Absent Confident 799 BCE 500 BCE
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Plate Armor Absent Confident 1300 BCE 801 BCE
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Plate Armor Absent Inferred 800 BCE
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Plate Armor Absent Confident 799 BCE 500 BCE
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Limb Protection Unknown Suspected 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Leather Cloth Unknown Suspected 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Laminar Armor Absent Confident 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Helmet Unknown Suspected 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Chainmail Absent Confident 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Breastplate Unknown Suspected 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Naval technology Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Military Vessel Absent Confident 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc Unknown Suspected 1300 BCE 801 BCE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc Present Inferred 800 BCE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc Unknown Suspected 799 BCE 500 BCE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service Absent Confident 1300 BCE  500 BCE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Human Sacrifice Kachi Plain - Proto-Historic Period (pk_kachi_proto_historic)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Crisis Cases
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Instability Data
Power Transitions
View all Power Transitions