Muhammad Zahir | University of Education Lahore (original) (raw)

Papers by Muhammad Zahir

Acta Via Serica, 2024

This paper presents the discovery and analysis of a possible Chinese burial (GTG_064) in Chitral,... more This paper presents the discovery and analysis of a possible Chinese burial (GTG_064) in Chitral, Pakistan, dated to the mid-8th century CE. The unique burial yields an assemblage of Tang dynasty coins, luxury goods, and cultural artifacts, revealing cultural and economic exchange between China and South Asia. The relatively high-status female burial challenges traditional assumptions about women's roles and cultural dynamics in the region. The findings provide new insights into ancient trade networks, religious ideologies, cultural and human exchanges, and the region's importance in the Silk Road. The burial's combination of Chinese and local elements underscores the complexity of cultural dynamics, while the presence of cowrie shells, as currency, and other luxury goods highlights the region's integration into the ancient global economy. The finding of a figurine of a mountain goat/ibex within the grave suggests the existence of ancient religious ideologies in the region. This research contributes to our understanding of historic northern and northwestern South Asia's cultural, ideological, and economic landscapes, emphasizing the significance of Chitral as an important node in the Silk Road networks.

Introduction Study area and location of sites Summary of findings Description of sites in Tabuk a... more Introduction Study area and location of sites Summary of findings Description of sites in Tabuk area: Adi Akhadar, Tabuk Playa, Area north of Tabuk, Description of sites in Nefud Conclusio

Journal of Asian Civilizations, 2022

The present paper contextualizes the results of the intensive archaeological survey around the Si... more The present paper contextualizes the results of the intensive archaeological survey around the Singoor village in District Chitral, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. The survey was optimized to specifically identify protohistoric graves through walking across the landscape in the vicinity of Shah Mirandeh graves at Singoor. The survey documented eleven burial sites, including the sites of Gankoreneotek, Gankoreni village, Hindukush Heights Hotel, Chakasht 1 & 2, Mirandeh, Noghur Dhok, Lashino Dhok, Kolambi and Sinjal Graves. Later, the site of Dolamuch was discovered in a subsequent survey carried out in 2008 during the excavations of Gankoreneotek graves. Thus, a total of twelve protohistoric cemeteries, including Shah Mirandeh graves, were documented around Singoor. Of these, three graves' sites Shah Mirandeh, Gankoreneotek and Chakasht 2 have been excavated. The present systematic survey was successful as it resulted in the documentation of one of the densest clusters of protohistoric/historic cemeteries in northern and northwestern Pakistan. The radiocarbon dates obtained from cemeteries around Singoor suggest a date range from 8 th century cal. BCE to 17 th century cal. CE, indicating the existence and presence of viable historic burial traditions that were possibly like the protohistoric burial traditions and shared the same landscape contexts.

Sindh Antiquities, 2020

This paper investigates petroglyphs of five pagodas along the Indus River in northern Pakistan. T... more This paper investigates petroglyphs of five pagodas along the Indus River in northern Pakistan. Two petroglyphs each were recorded at the sites of Shatial, District Upper Kohistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province and Thak Das – Chilas, District Diamer, Gilgit-Baltistan. A single example of a pagoda structure was also recorded at Chilas II site. The pagodas at Shatial, carved as part of the triptych, were the largest, most embellished and vividly represented of these pagodas. These pagodas consisted of architectural features derived from Gandharan stupa construction traditions, particularly the Shatial pagodas, and Chinese pagodas, such as the provision of elaborate eaves at Thak Das. The Chilas II pagoda is dated to 1st century CE, while the Shatial pagodas are dated to the first half of the 4th century CE. The Thak Das pagodas are probably dated from 7th to 9th centuries CE. The presence of these pagodas, along with additional regional archaeological and historical evidence, suggest to a robust religious and cultural linkage between northern South Asia and China through the silk routes during the 1st millennium CE. This long-term relationship resulted in the continuous transmission of the Gandharan architectural traditions and styles from Pakistan to China and its evolution therein.

Rock Art Review, 2022

This paper presents newly found petroglyphs in the vicinity of Shatial village, at the Shatial Da... more This paper presents newly found petroglyphs in the vicinity of Shatial village, at the Shatial Das site, in District Upper Kohistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. An initial survey of these petroglyphs suggests that they belong to the late pre-Historic/proto-Historic and early Historic periods. These petroglyphs are dominated by the representation of footprints, 'ibexes/markhors', 'horses', 'hunting scenes', 'horse riding scenes', individual standing figures, a possible chariot drawing, and an inscription in Kharoshthi script. Unlike the previously discovered nearby rock art sites at Shatial with dominant Buddhist religious symbols, the petroglyphs at Shatial Das did not have a single representation of a Buddhist-inspired symbol. Furthermore, the discovery of possible late preHistoric and early Historic petroglyphs at Shatial Das also problematises the previous dating of the petroglyphs in the Shatial region from the 3rd to 8th centuries CE. These new findings shed light on the possible rerouting of ancient access and communication routes and the Indus River crossings during the mid-1st millennium CE from Shatial Das to Shatial.

South Asian Studies, 2022

This paper investigates the Buddhist stupa carvings at Chilas Bridge site, District Diamer, Gilgi... more This paper investigates the Buddhist stupa carvings at Chilas Bridge site, District Diamer, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. We studied a total of 199 stupa carvings using statistical techniques to explore the depiction of Buddhist stupas and their constituent parts in this key region of northern Pakistan. Analysis of the stupa carvings suggests that the majority of the stupas were of small and medium size, primarily oriented in preferred directions and positions. Most of the stupa carvings at Chilas Bridge were depicted at a height/width ratio of 2:1, perhaps reflecting a real artistic and architectural convention following Hinayana Buddhism. The artists at Chilas Bridge appear to have used Gandharan stupa construction techniques as inspiration for developing their own style of stupa carving tradition, which lasted for around 700 years.

Ancient Punjab, 2021

The present paper presents a brief report on an assemblage of grave goods that was discovered dur... more The present paper presents a brief report on an assemblage of grave goods that was discovered during the construction of the Hindukush Heights Hotel, Chitral. The grave goods were salvaged from destroyed grave(s) by the owner of the hotel and were photographed during a non-random systematic transect survey of the hills around Singoor village in 2005. These grave goods were divided into three categories, namely pottery vessels, copper/bronze vessels and copper/bronze personal ornaments. These included six complete vessels, a copper/bronze bowl, a copper/bronze bottle and two copper/bronze bangles or anklets. Functionally, it seems that the pottery vessels and copper/bronze bottle were meant for drinking/storage of water or other liquids, while the copper/bronze bowl was possibly used for eating food or drinking liquids. A comparison of the grave goods from Hindukush Height Hotel with dated graves in Chitral suggests that the copper/bronze vessels possibly belonged to mid-1 st millennium BCE, while the copper/bronze bangles/anklets could probably be dated from 1 st century BCE to 1 st century CE. The jug with pinched lip may belong to 5 th-7 th century CE, while the drinking pots could possibly be dated to the last quarter of the 1 st millennium CE. The site of Hindukush Height Hotel was probably in existence from mid-1 st millennium BCE to the end of 1 st millennium CE.

The Journal of Humanities & Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Peshawar, Dec 31, 2020

Petroglyphs were discovered in the Birir valley of district Chitral, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province,... more Petroglyphs were discovered in the Birir valley of district Chitral, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan, on an ancient route connecting the Kalasha valleys with Nuristan, lower Chitral and Central Asia. The petroglyphs were engraved on a solitary schist stone. The rock, with associated structures, occupies a strategic location in the landscape, possibly representing a hunting outpost. The petroglyphs consist of 29 figures, including human, animal, geometric and indistinct figures. These figures seem to have been created through the use of a metal stylus/burin. The figures were produced through the percussion method, utilizing a stippling technique. The depiction of a dog, a goat and stylized human figures suggest a possible link to the subsistence and hunting strategies of the protohistoric people in the region. Based upon the limited archaeological knowledge of the region, the present petroglyph site may tentatively be dated to the 1 st millennium BCE.

Nature, 2021

We are a group of archaeologists, anthropologists, curators and geneticists representing diverse ... more We are a group of archaeologists, anthropologists, curators and geneticists representing diverse global communities and 31 countries. All of us met in a virtual workshop dedicated to ethics in ancient DNA research held in November 2020. There was widespread agreement that globally applicable ethical guidelines are needed, but that recent recommendations grounded in discussion about research on human remains from North America are not always generalizable worldwide. Here we propose the following globally applicable guidelines, taking into consideration diverse contexts. These hold that: (1) researchers must ensure that all regulations were followed in the places where they work and from which the human remains derived; (2) researchers must prepare a detailed plan prior to beginning any study; (3)

Nature Scientific Reports, 2021

The transition from hunting to herding transformed the cold, arid steppes of Mongolia and Eastern... more The transition from hunting to herding transformed the cold, arid steppes of Mongolia and Eastern Eurasia into a key social and economic center of the ancient world, but a fragmentary archaeological record limits our understanding of the subsistence base for early pastoral societies in this key region. Organic material preserved in high mountain ice provides rare snapshots into the use of alpine and high altitude zones, which played a central role in the emergence of East Asian pastoralism. Here, we present the results of the first archaeological survey of melting ice margins in the Altai Mountains of western Mongolia, revealing a near-continuous record of more than 3500 years of human activity. Osteology, radiocarbon dating, and collagen fingerprinting analysis of wooden projectiles, animal bone, and other artifacts indicate that big-game hunting and exploitation of alpine ice played a significant role during the emergence of mobile pastoralism in the Altai, and remained a core ele...

Nature Communications, 2021

Consuming the milk of other species is a unique adaptation of Homo sapiens, with implications for... more Consuming the milk of other species is a unique adaptation of Homo sapiens, with implications for health, birth spacing and evolution. Key questions nonetheless remain regarding the origins of dairying and its relationship to the genetically-determined ability to drink milk into adulthood through lactase persistence (LP). As a major centre of LP diversity, Africa is of significant interest to the evolution of dairying. Here we report proteomic evidence for milk consumption in ancient Africa. Using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) we identify dairy proteins in human dental calculus from northeastern Africa, directly demonstrating milk consumption at least six millennia ago. Our findings indicate that pastoralist groups were drinking milk as soon as herding spread into eastern Africa, at a time when the genetic adaptation for milk digestion was absent or rare. Our study links LP status in specific ancient individuals with direct evidence for their consumption ...

Science, 2019

By sequencing 523 ancient humans, we show that the primary source of ancestry in modern South Asi... more By sequencing 523 ancient humans, we show that the primary source of ancestry in modern South Asians is a prehistoric genetic gradient between people related to early hunter-gatherers of Iran and Southeast Asia. After the Indus Valley Civilization’s decline, its people mixed with individuals in the southeast to form one of the two main ancestral populations of South Asia, whose direct descendants live in southern India. Simultaneously, they mixed with descendants of Steppe pastoralists who, starting around 4000 years ago, spread via Central Asia to form the other main ancestral population. The Steppe ancestry in South Asia has the same profile as that in Bronze Age Eastern Europe, tracking a movement of people that affected both regions and that likely spread the distinctive features shared between Indo-Iranian and Balto-Slavic languages.

Science, 2019

Environmentally transformative human use of land accelerated with the emergence of agriculture, b... more Environmentally transformative human use of land accelerated with the emergence of agriculture, but the extent, trajectory, and implications of these early changes are not well understood. An empirical global assessment of land use from 10,000 years before the present (yr B.P.) to 1850 CE reveals a planet largely transformed by hunter-gatherers, farmers, and pastoralists by 3000 years ago, considerably earlier than the dates in the land-use reconstructions commonly used by Earth scientists. Synthesis of knowledge contributed by more than 250 archaeologists highlighted gaps in archaeological expertise and data quality, which peaked for 2000 yr B.P. and in traditionally studied and wealthier regions. Archaeological reconstruction of global land-use history illuminates the deep roots of Earth’s transformation and challenges the emerging Anthropocene paradigm that large-scale anthropogenic global environmental change is mostly a recent phenomenon.

Archaeological Research in Asia, 2017

Mid-latitude dune fields offer significant records of human occupations in southwest Asia, reflec... more Mid-latitude dune fields offer significant records of human occupations in southwest Asia, reflecting human responses to past climate changes. Currently arid, but episodically wetter in the past, the Nefud desert of northern Saudi Arabia provides numerous examples of humanenvironment interactions and population movements in the desert belt. Here we describe results from interdisciplinary surveys in the western Nefud that targeted palaeolake deposits identified using satellite imagery. Surveys indicate the presence of thousands of discrete palaeolakes and palaeowetlands, providing valuable palaeoenvironmental records, and numerous archaeological and palaeontological assemblages. Geomorphological investigations suggest that many further deposits remain buried. Forty-six prehistoric archaeological sites have been identified in association with freshwater deposits, spanning the Lower Palaeolithic to the pre-Islamic Holocene. Lower Palaeolithic sites appear concentrated close to raw material sources near the Nefud fringe, despite the presence of freshwater and fauna deeper in the dune field. Middle Palaeolithic occupations extend more broadly, and by the early Holocene humans were at least periodically occupying areas deep in the desert. We present the first records of Neolithic sites in this dune field, including substantial hearth complexes distributed relatively deep within the dunes, potentially indicating increased mobility during this period. Later Holocene sites with stone structures are present around the dune fringes. Our results indicate that, during wet periods of the Pleistocene and Holocene, water in the western Nefud may have been more readily available than elsewhere in northern Arabia due to the high density of depressions where wetlands can form. The high frequency of lakes or marshes appears to have facilitated human occupations and dispersal through the region.

Quaternary Science Reviews, 2016

The current paucity of Pleistocene vertebrate records from the Arabian Peninsula-a landmass of ov... more The current paucity of Pleistocene vertebrate records from the Arabian Peninsula-a landmass of over 3 million km 2-is a significant gap in our knowledge of the Quaternary. Such data are critical lines of contextual evidence for considering animal and hominin dispersals between Africa and Eurasia generally, and hominin palaeoecology in the Pleistocene landscapes of the Arabian interior specifically. Here, we describe an important contribution to the record and report stratigraphically-constrained fossils of mammals, birds and reptiles from recent excavations at Ti's al Ghadah in the southwestern Nefud Desert. Combined U-series and ESR analyses of Oryx sp. teeth indicate that the assemblage is Middle Pleistocene in age and dates to ca. 500 ka. The identified fauna is a biogeographical admixture that consists of likely endemics and taxa of African and Eurasian affinity and includes extinct and extant (or related Pleistocene forms of) mammals (Palaeoloxodon cf. recki, Panthera cf. gombaszogenis, Equus hemionus, cf. Crocuta crocuta, Vulpes sp., Canis anthus, Oryx sp.), the first Pleistocene records of birds from the Arabian Peninsula (Struthio sp., Neophron percnopterus, Milvus cf. migrans, Tachybaptus sp. Anas sp., Pterocles orientalis, Motacilla cf. alba) and reptiles (Varanidae/Uromastyx sp.). We infer that the assemblage reflects mortality in populations of herbivorous animals and their predators and scavengers that were attracted to freshwater and plant resources in the inter-dune basin. At present, there is no evidence to suggest hominin agency in the accumulation of the bone assemblages. The inferred ecological characteristics of the taxa recovered indicate the presence, at least periodically, of substantial water-bodies and open grassland habitats.

Antiquity, 2008

The GGC is an archaeological phenomenon known from work in the second half of the twentieth centu... more The GGC is an archaeological phenomenon known from work in the second half of the twentieth century by Dani (1963) and Stacul (1987). The GGC is known primarily through excavations of graves in the valleys of Swat and Dir located south of Chitral and this area traditionally ...

Pakistan Heritage, 2021

This paper explores the pottery assemblage from Hindu Shahi sites in the northwestern Pakistan, c... more This paper explores the pottery assemblage from Hindu Shahi sites in the northwestern Pakistan, collected during the landscape survey in the districts of Swat, Lower Dir, Malakand Agency and Buner in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. During the survey, an area of nearly 2500 square kilometres was investigated using systematic techniques, resulting in the documentation of 225 Hindu Shahi sites. Preliminary analyses of the pottery assemblage revealed vessels with nine types of rims and ten types of decorations. Some rim types and decorations are widespread, showing broad regional similarities and design choices across the study area. In contrast, others are relatively rare and limited to particular localities, reflecting possible socio-political and economic considerations. The similarities within pottery forms and their distribution patterns suggest an integrated socio-political system, wherein production and usage of pottery was systematized within a short period of time. The Mayar valley in particular, and its nearby localities of Tauda Cheena and Qulangai along the Swat River, in general, exhibit greater variety in pottery and decoration. Other localities, particularly those in close proximity to the Vale of Peshawar, have only the simplest and most widespread forms of vessels and decorations. The distinctive pottery assemblage from Mayar valley appears indicative of its high socio-political stature within the study area during the Hindu Shahi period.

The archaeology and history of District Chitral in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan, is not ... more The archaeology and history of District Chitral in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan, is not very well understood in terms of major historical events and the character of its relationships with surrounding regions in South Asia and beyond. In fact, systematic archaeological research has recently started in Chitral, which suggests close linkages between Chitral and north-western Pakistan, particularly within the context of protohistoric cemeteries. Though Buddhism was a major phenomenon during the 1 millennium CE in most of north-western Pakistan and adjoining areas of Central Asia, Trans-Pamir region and China, there are very scarce evidence of Buddhism in Chitral, leading to suggestion of Chitral as being a ‘backwater’ of Buddhism in South Asia. The finding of a unique terracotta female figurine from Singoor village, Chitral, throws light on this interesting period of Chitral history and its relationships with Gandharan Buddhism. The present paper investigates the Singoor terra...

Nature, 2021

We are a group of archaeologists, anthropologists, curators and geneticists representing diverse ... more We are a group of archaeologists, anthropologists, curators and geneticists representing diverse global communities and 31 countries. All of us met in a virtual workshop dedicated to ethics in ancient DNA research held in November 2020. There was widespread agreement that globally applicable ethical guidelines are needed, but that recent recommendations grounded in discussion about research on human remains from North America are not always generalizable worldwide. Here we propose the following globally applicable guidelines, taking into consideration diverse contexts. These hold that: (1) researchers must ensure that all regulations were followed in the places where they work and from which the human remains derived; (2) researchers must prepare a detailed plan prior to beginning any study; (3) researchers must minimize damage to human remains; (4) researchers must ensure that data are made available following publication to allow critical re-examination of scientific findings; and (5) researchers must engage with other stakeholders from the beginning of a study and ensure respect and sensitivity to stakeholder perspectives. We commit to adhering to these guidelines and expect they will promote a high ethical standard in DNA research on human remains going forward.

Acta Via Serica, 2024

This paper presents the discovery and analysis of a possible Chinese burial (GTG_064) in Chitral,... more This paper presents the discovery and analysis of a possible Chinese burial (GTG_064) in Chitral, Pakistan, dated to the mid-8th century CE. The unique burial yields an assemblage of Tang dynasty coins, luxury goods, and cultural artifacts, revealing cultural and economic exchange between China and South Asia. The relatively high-status female burial challenges traditional assumptions about women's roles and cultural dynamics in the region. The findings provide new insights into ancient trade networks, religious ideologies, cultural and human exchanges, and the region's importance in the Silk Road. The burial's combination of Chinese and local elements underscores the complexity of cultural dynamics, while the presence of cowrie shells, as currency, and other luxury goods highlights the region's integration into the ancient global economy. The finding of a figurine of a mountain goat/ibex within the grave suggests the existence of ancient religious ideologies in the region. This research contributes to our understanding of historic northern and northwestern South Asia's cultural, ideological, and economic landscapes, emphasizing the significance of Chitral as an important node in the Silk Road networks.

Introduction Study area and location of sites Summary of findings Description of sites in Tabuk a... more Introduction Study area and location of sites Summary of findings Description of sites in Tabuk area: Adi Akhadar, Tabuk Playa, Area north of Tabuk, Description of sites in Nefud Conclusio

Journal of Asian Civilizations, 2022

The present paper contextualizes the results of the intensive archaeological survey around the Si... more The present paper contextualizes the results of the intensive archaeological survey around the Singoor village in District Chitral, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. The survey was optimized to specifically identify protohistoric graves through walking across the landscape in the vicinity of Shah Mirandeh graves at Singoor. The survey documented eleven burial sites, including the sites of Gankoreneotek, Gankoreni village, Hindukush Heights Hotel, Chakasht 1 & 2, Mirandeh, Noghur Dhok, Lashino Dhok, Kolambi and Sinjal Graves. Later, the site of Dolamuch was discovered in a subsequent survey carried out in 2008 during the excavations of Gankoreneotek graves. Thus, a total of twelve protohistoric cemeteries, including Shah Mirandeh graves, were documented around Singoor. Of these, three graves' sites Shah Mirandeh, Gankoreneotek and Chakasht 2 have been excavated. The present systematic survey was successful as it resulted in the documentation of one of the densest clusters of protohistoric/historic cemeteries in northern and northwestern Pakistan. The radiocarbon dates obtained from cemeteries around Singoor suggest a date range from 8 th century cal. BCE to 17 th century cal. CE, indicating the existence and presence of viable historic burial traditions that were possibly like the protohistoric burial traditions and shared the same landscape contexts.

Sindh Antiquities, 2020

This paper investigates petroglyphs of five pagodas along the Indus River in northern Pakistan. T... more This paper investigates petroglyphs of five pagodas along the Indus River in northern Pakistan. Two petroglyphs each were recorded at the sites of Shatial, District Upper Kohistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province and Thak Das – Chilas, District Diamer, Gilgit-Baltistan. A single example of a pagoda structure was also recorded at Chilas II site. The pagodas at Shatial, carved as part of the triptych, were the largest, most embellished and vividly represented of these pagodas. These pagodas consisted of architectural features derived from Gandharan stupa construction traditions, particularly the Shatial pagodas, and Chinese pagodas, such as the provision of elaborate eaves at Thak Das. The Chilas II pagoda is dated to 1st century CE, while the Shatial pagodas are dated to the first half of the 4th century CE. The Thak Das pagodas are probably dated from 7th to 9th centuries CE. The presence of these pagodas, along with additional regional archaeological and historical evidence, suggest to a robust religious and cultural linkage between northern South Asia and China through the silk routes during the 1st millennium CE. This long-term relationship resulted in the continuous transmission of the Gandharan architectural traditions and styles from Pakistan to China and its evolution therein.

Rock Art Review, 2022

This paper presents newly found petroglyphs in the vicinity of Shatial village, at the Shatial Da... more This paper presents newly found petroglyphs in the vicinity of Shatial village, at the Shatial Das site, in District Upper Kohistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. An initial survey of these petroglyphs suggests that they belong to the late pre-Historic/proto-Historic and early Historic periods. These petroglyphs are dominated by the representation of footprints, 'ibexes/markhors', 'horses', 'hunting scenes', 'horse riding scenes', individual standing figures, a possible chariot drawing, and an inscription in Kharoshthi script. Unlike the previously discovered nearby rock art sites at Shatial with dominant Buddhist religious symbols, the petroglyphs at Shatial Das did not have a single representation of a Buddhist-inspired symbol. Furthermore, the discovery of possible late preHistoric and early Historic petroglyphs at Shatial Das also problematises the previous dating of the petroglyphs in the Shatial region from the 3rd to 8th centuries CE. These new findings shed light on the possible rerouting of ancient access and communication routes and the Indus River crossings during the mid-1st millennium CE from Shatial Das to Shatial.

South Asian Studies, 2022

This paper investigates the Buddhist stupa carvings at Chilas Bridge site, District Diamer, Gilgi... more This paper investigates the Buddhist stupa carvings at Chilas Bridge site, District Diamer, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. We studied a total of 199 stupa carvings using statistical techniques to explore the depiction of Buddhist stupas and their constituent parts in this key region of northern Pakistan. Analysis of the stupa carvings suggests that the majority of the stupas were of small and medium size, primarily oriented in preferred directions and positions. Most of the stupa carvings at Chilas Bridge were depicted at a height/width ratio of 2:1, perhaps reflecting a real artistic and architectural convention following Hinayana Buddhism. The artists at Chilas Bridge appear to have used Gandharan stupa construction techniques as inspiration for developing their own style of stupa carving tradition, which lasted for around 700 years.

Ancient Punjab, 2021

The present paper presents a brief report on an assemblage of grave goods that was discovered dur... more The present paper presents a brief report on an assemblage of grave goods that was discovered during the construction of the Hindukush Heights Hotel, Chitral. The grave goods were salvaged from destroyed grave(s) by the owner of the hotel and were photographed during a non-random systematic transect survey of the hills around Singoor village in 2005. These grave goods were divided into three categories, namely pottery vessels, copper/bronze vessels and copper/bronze personal ornaments. These included six complete vessels, a copper/bronze bowl, a copper/bronze bottle and two copper/bronze bangles or anklets. Functionally, it seems that the pottery vessels and copper/bronze bottle were meant for drinking/storage of water or other liquids, while the copper/bronze bowl was possibly used for eating food or drinking liquids. A comparison of the grave goods from Hindukush Height Hotel with dated graves in Chitral suggests that the copper/bronze vessels possibly belonged to mid-1 st millennium BCE, while the copper/bronze bangles/anklets could probably be dated from 1 st century BCE to 1 st century CE. The jug with pinched lip may belong to 5 th-7 th century CE, while the drinking pots could possibly be dated to the last quarter of the 1 st millennium CE. The site of Hindukush Height Hotel was probably in existence from mid-1 st millennium BCE to the end of 1 st millennium CE.

The Journal of Humanities & Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Peshawar, Dec 31, 2020

Petroglyphs were discovered in the Birir valley of district Chitral, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province,... more Petroglyphs were discovered in the Birir valley of district Chitral, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan, on an ancient route connecting the Kalasha valleys with Nuristan, lower Chitral and Central Asia. The petroglyphs were engraved on a solitary schist stone. The rock, with associated structures, occupies a strategic location in the landscape, possibly representing a hunting outpost. The petroglyphs consist of 29 figures, including human, animal, geometric and indistinct figures. These figures seem to have been created through the use of a metal stylus/burin. The figures were produced through the percussion method, utilizing a stippling technique. The depiction of a dog, a goat and stylized human figures suggest a possible link to the subsistence and hunting strategies of the protohistoric people in the region. Based upon the limited archaeological knowledge of the region, the present petroglyph site may tentatively be dated to the 1 st millennium BCE.

Nature, 2021

We are a group of archaeologists, anthropologists, curators and geneticists representing diverse ... more We are a group of archaeologists, anthropologists, curators and geneticists representing diverse global communities and 31 countries. All of us met in a virtual workshop dedicated to ethics in ancient DNA research held in November 2020. There was widespread agreement that globally applicable ethical guidelines are needed, but that recent recommendations grounded in discussion about research on human remains from North America are not always generalizable worldwide. Here we propose the following globally applicable guidelines, taking into consideration diverse contexts. These hold that: (1) researchers must ensure that all regulations were followed in the places where they work and from which the human remains derived; (2) researchers must prepare a detailed plan prior to beginning any study; (3)

Nature Scientific Reports, 2021

The transition from hunting to herding transformed the cold, arid steppes of Mongolia and Eastern... more The transition from hunting to herding transformed the cold, arid steppes of Mongolia and Eastern Eurasia into a key social and economic center of the ancient world, but a fragmentary archaeological record limits our understanding of the subsistence base for early pastoral societies in this key region. Organic material preserved in high mountain ice provides rare snapshots into the use of alpine and high altitude zones, which played a central role in the emergence of East Asian pastoralism. Here, we present the results of the first archaeological survey of melting ice margins in the Altai Mountains of western Mongolia, revealing a near-continuous record of more than 3500 years of human activity. Osteology, radiocarbon dating, and collagen fingerprinting analysis of wooden projectiles, animal bone, and other artifacts indicate that big-game hunting and exploitation of alpine ice played a significant role during the emergence of mobile pastoralism in the Altai, and remained a core ele...

Nature Communications, 2021

Consuming the milk of other species is a unique adaptation of Homo sapiens, with implications for... more Consuming the milk of other species is a unique adaptation of Homo sapiens, with implications for health, birth spacing and evolution. Key questions nonetheless remain regarding the origins of dairying and its relationship to the genetically-determined ability to drink milk into adulthood through lactase persistence (LP). As a major centre of LP diversity, Africa is of significant interest to the evolution of dairying. Here we report proteomic evidence for milk consumption in ancient Africa. Using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) we identify dairy proteins in human dental calculus from northeastern Africa, directly demonstrating milk consumption at least six millennia ago. Our findings indicate that pastoralist groups were drinking milk as soon as herding spread into eastern Africa, at a time when the genetic adaptation for milk digestion was absent or rare. Our study links LP status in specific ancient individuals with direct evidence for their consumption ...

Science, 2019

By sequencing 523 ancient humans, we show that the primary source of ancestry in modern South Asi... more By sequencing 523 ancient humans, we show that the primary source of ancestry in modern South Asians is a prehistoric genetic gradient between people related to early hunter-gatherers of Iran and Southeast Asia. After the Indus Valley Civilization’s decline, its people mixed with individuals in the southeast to form one of the two main ancestral populations of South Asia, whose direct descendants live in southern India. Simultaneously, they mixed with descendants of Steppe pastoralists who, starting around 4000 years ago, spread via Central Asia to form the other main ancestral population. The Steppe ancestry in South Asia has the same profile as that in Bronze Age Eastern Europe, tracking a movement of people that affected both regions and that likely spread the distinctive features shared between Indo-Iranian and Balto-Slavic languages.

Science, 2019

Environmentally transformative human use of land accelerated with the emergence of agriculture, b... more Environmentally transformative human use of land accelerated with the emergence of agriculture, but the extent, trajectory, and implications of these early changes are not well understood. An empirical global assessment of land use from 10,000 years before the present (yr B.P.) to 1850 CE reveals a planet largely transformed by hunter-gatherers, farmers, and pastoralists by 3000 years ago, considerably earlier than the dates in the land-use reconstructions commonly used by Earth scientists. Synthesis of knowledge contributed by more than 250 archaeologists highlighted gaps in archaeological expertise and data quality, which peaked for 2000 yr B.P. and in traditionally studied and wealthier regions. Archaeological reconstruction of global land-use history illuminates the deep roots of Earth’s transformation and challenges the emerging Anthropocene paradigm that large-scale anthropogenic global environmental change is mostly a recent phenomenon.

Archaeological Research in Asia, 2017

Mid-latitude dune fields offer significant records of human occupations in southwest Asia, reflec... more Mid-latitude dune fields offer significant records of human occupations in southwest Asia, reflecting human responses to past climate changes. Currently arid, but episodically wetter in the past, the Nefud desert of northern Saudi Arabia provides numerous examples of humanenvironment interactions and population movements in the desert belt. Here we describe results from interdisciplinary surveys in the western Nefud that targeted palaeolake deposits identified using satellite imagery. Surveys indicate the presence of thousands of discrete palaeolakes and palaeowetlands, providing valuable palaeoenvironmental records, and numerous archaeological and palaeontological assemblages. Geomorphological investigations suggest that many further deposits remain buried. Forty-six prehistoric archaeological sites have been identified in association with freshwater deposits, spanning the Lower Palaeolithic to the pre-Islamic Holocene. Lower Palaeolithic sites appear concentrated close to raw material sources near the Nefud fringe, despite the presence of freshwater and fauna deeper in the dune field. Middle Palaeolithic occupations extend more broadly, and by the early Holocene humans were at least periodically occupying areas deep in the desert. We present the first records of Neolithic sites in this dune field, including substantial hearth complexes distributed relatively deep within the dunes, potentially indicating increased mobility during this period. Later Holocene sites with stone structures are present around the dune fringes. Our results indicate that, during wet periods of the Pleistocene and Holocene, water in the western Nefud may have been more readily available than elsewhere in northern Arabia due to the high density of depressions where wetlands can form. The high frequency of lakes or marshes appears to have facilitated human occupations and dispersal through the region.

Quaternary Science Reviews, 2016

The current paucity of Pleistocene vertebrate records from the Arabian Peninsula-a landmass of ov... more The current paucity of Pleistocene vertebrate records from the Arabian Peninsula-a landmass of over 3 million km 2-is a significant gap in our knowledge of the Quaternary. Such data are critical lines of contextual evidence for considering animal and hominin dispersals between Africa and Eurasia generally, and hominin palaeoecology in the Pleistocene landscapes of the Arabian interior specifically. Here, we describe an important contribution to the record and report stratigraphically-constrained fossils of mammals, birds and reptiles from recent excavations at Ti's al Ghadah in the southwestern Nefud Desert. Combined U-series and ESR analyses of Oryx sp. teeth indicate that the assemblage is Middle Pleistocene in age and dates to ca. 500 ka. The identified fauna is a biogeographical admixture that consists of likely endemics and taxa of African and Eurasian affinity and includes extinct and extant (or related Pleistocene forms of) mammals (Palaeoloxodon cf. recki, Panthera cf. gombaszogenis, Equus hemionus, cf. Crocuta crocuta, Vulpes sp., Canis anthus, Oryx sp.), the first Pleistocene records of birds from the Arabian Peninsula (Struthio sp., Neophron percnopterus, Milvus cf. migrans, Tachybaptus sp. Anas sp., Pterocles orientalis, Motacilla cf. alba) and reptiles (Varanidae/Uromastyx sp.). We infer that the assemblage reflects mortality in populations of herbivorous animals and their predators and scavengers that were attracted to freshwater and plant resources in the inter-dune basin. At present, there is no evidence to suggest hominin agency in the accumulation of the bone assemblages. The inferred ecological characteristics of the taxa recovered indicate the presence, at least periodically, of substantial water-bodies and open grassland habitats.

Antiquity, 2008

The GGC is an archaeological phenomenon known from work in the second half of the twentieth centu... more The GGC is an archaeological phenomenon known from work in the second half of the twentieth century by Dani (1963) and Stacul (1987). The GGC is known primarily through excavations of graves in the valleys of Swat and Dir located south of Chitral and this area traditionally ...

Pakistan Heritage, 2021

This paper explores the pottery assemblage from Hindu Shahi sites in the northwestern Pakistan, c... more This paper explores the pottery assemblage from Hindu Shahi sites in the northwestern Pakistan, collected during the landscape survey in the districts of Swat, Lower Dir, Malakand Agency and Buner in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. During the survey, an area of nearly 2500 square kilometres was investigated using systematic techniques, resulting in the documentation of 225 Hindu Shahi sites. Preliminary analyses of the pottery assemblage revealed vessels with nine types of rims and ten types of decorations. Some rim types and decorations are widespread, showing broad regional similarities and design choices across the study area. In contrast, others are relatively rare and limited to particular localities, reflecting possible socio-political and economic considerations. The similarities within pottery forms and their distribution patterns suggest an integrated socio-political system, wherein production and usage of pottery was systematized within a short period of time. The Mayar valley in particular, and its nearby localities of Tauda Cheena and Qulangai along the Swat River, in general, exhibit greater variety in pottery and decoration. Other localities, particularly those in close proximity to the Vale of Peshawar, have only the simplest and most widespread forms of vessels and decorations. The distinctive pottery assemblage from Mayar valley appears indicative of its high socio-political stature within the study area during the Hindu Shahi period.

The archaeology and history of District Chitral in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan, is not ... more The archaeology and history of District Chitral in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan, is not very well understood in terms of major historical events and the character of its relationships with surrounding regions in South Asia and beyond. In fact, systematic archaeological research has recently started in Chitral, which suggests close linkages between Chitral and north-western Pakistan, particularly within the context of protohistoric cemeteries. Though Buddhism was a major phenomenon during the 1 millennium CE in most of north-western Pakistan and adjoining areas of Central Asia, Trans-Pamir region and China, there are very scarce evidence of Buddhism in Chitral, leading to suggestion of Chitral as being a ‘backwater’ of Buddhism in South Asia. The finding of a unique terracotta female figurine from Singoor village, Chitral, throws light on this interesting period of Chitral history and its relationships with Gandharan Buddhism. The present paper investigates the Singoor terra...

Nature, 2021

We are a group of archaeologists, anthropologists, curators and geneticists representing diverse ... more We are a group of archaeologists, anthropologists, curators and geneticists representing diverse global communities and 31 countries. All of us met in a virtual workshop dedicated to ethics in ancient DNA research held in November 2020. There was widespread agreement that globally applicable ethical guidelines are needed, but that recent recommendations grounded in discussion about research on human remains from North America are not always generalizable worldwide. Here we propose the following globally applicable guidelines, taking into consideration diverse contexts. These hold that: (1) researchers must ensure that all regulations were followed in the places where they work and from which the human remains derived; (2) researchers must prepare a detailed plan prior to beginning any study; (3) researchers must minimize damage to human remains; (4) researchers must ensure that data are made available following publication to allow critical re-examination of scientific findings; and (5) researchers must engage with other stakeholders from the beginning of a study and ensure respect and sensitivity to stakeholder perspectives. We commit to adhering to these guidelines and expect they will promote a high ethical standard in DNA research on human remains going forward.

by Dorian Q Fuller, Lisa Janz, Maria Marta Sampietro, Philip I. Buckland, Agustín A Diez Castillo, Ciler Cilingiroglu, Gary Feinman, Peter Hiscock, Peter Hommel, Maureece Levin, Henrik B Lindskoug, Scott Macrae, John M. Marston, Alicia R Ventresca-Miller, Ayushi Nayak, Tanya M Peres, Lucas Proctor, Steve Renette, Gwen Robbins Schug, Peter Schmidt, Oula Seitsonen, Arkadiusz Sołtysiak, Robert Spengler, Sean Ulm, David Wright, and Muhammad Zahir

Science, 2019

Environmentally transformative human use of land accelerated with the emergence of 5 agriculture,... more Environmentally transformative human use of land accelerated with the emergence of 5 agriculture, but the extent, trajectory, and implications of these early changes are not well understood. An empirical global assessment of land use from 10,000 BP to 1850 CE reveals a planet largely transformed by hunter-gatherers, farmers and pastoralists by 3,000 years ago, significantly earlier than land-use reconstructions commonly used by Earth scientists. Synthesis of knowledge contributed by over 250 archaeologists highlighted gaps in archaeological 10 expertise and data quality, which peaked at 2000 BP and in traditionally studied and wealthier regions. Archaeological reconstruction of global land-use history illuminates the deep roots of Earth's transformation through millennia of increasingly intensive land use, challenging the emerging Anthropocene paradigm that anthropogenic global environmental change is mostly recent. 15 One Sentence Summary: A map of synthesized archaeological knowledge on land use reveals a planet transformed by hunter-gatherers, farmers and pastoralists by 3,000 years ago.

Authors not found on Academia:
Torben Rick, Tim Denham, Jonathan Driver, Heather Thakar, Amber L. Johnson, R. Alan Covey, Jason Herrmann, Carrie Hritz, Catherine Kearns, Dan Lawrence, Michael Morrison, Robert J. Speakman, Martina L. Steffen, Keir M. Strickland, M. Cemre Ustunkaya, Jeremy Powell, Alexa Thornton.

Guide to Peshawar Museum, Peshawar, 2005