KNP Archaeology Survey
INTRODUCTION

Despite its harsh climate and lack of resources, the Kirthar area occupies an important geographical position both because of its central location - lying between Iran and the Middle East to the west, Afghanistan and Central Asia to the north and South and South East Asia to the east - plus its proximity to one the great cradles of world civilisation, the Indus Valley.

The importance of this location is reflected in traces of human presence in the area going back more than five thousand years. A continuity of occupation is apparent from Neolithic through Chalcolithic, Bronze and Iron Ages, Proto-historic, Early Historical, Islamic and Colonial times. Contemporary settlement in Kirthar continues the long history of human use of the region.

The archaeological evidence of this occupation takes many different forms. The earliest sites are represented by scatters of stone tools and debris from their manufacture, including flakes and cores of the locally available brown chert.

Multi-period settlement sites beginning in the Early Bronze Age (from 3000 BC - the Amri and Harappan cultural periods) are often located on top of natural hills and still reveal traces of stone-built, rectilinear walls and buildings, with large amounts of ceramic sherds, including painted and incised pieces, and artefacts such as grinding stones, ivory beads and carved shell.

The Islamic period is well represented by numerous graveyards with very fine carved standing tombs built in the Chaukundi style. Remains of colonial period rest houses and mile-stones indicate more recent cultural incursions.

A single rock art site, in the south west of the Park, and the unique fortress of Rani Kot in the north east round out the picture of a very long and complex history of human activity in this area.