KARACHI, July 23: Experts at a seminar on the “Sequence of cultural inhabitation in Balochistan” on Monday stressed the need for protecting and preserving over 1,000 archaeological sites in Balochistan, adding that exploration further could lead to the discovery of thousands of ancient cultural sites in that province.

The seminar was organised by the National Museum of Pakistan, Karachi, and the Institute of Ethics and Culture at the museum’s auditorium.

Qasim Ali Qasim, director of the Southern Circle of Archaeology, presided over the programme where Pierre Seillan, Consul-General of France in Karachi, was the chief guest. Makin Khan, Director of the National Museum, and Haleem Sharar, Editor of the “Archaeology Quarterly” spoke on the history and culture of Balochistan.

The experts referred to the impressions of Pottinger (1810), Masson (1826-1840) and Bellew (1872) who travelled through Balochistan and described the cultural sites as of a great value. The experts observed that the topographical features and the political situation in that region made it difficult to explore the archaeological sites and even prevented archaeological work for a long time. The first general information was provided by Hughes (1877) and Minchin and Hughes-Buller (1907) in the Gazetteer of Balochistan.

The pioneering work by Hargreaves (1929) and Sir Aurel Stein (1931, 1943) provided more detailed information about the archaeological remains in the region. While Hargreaves carried out excavation at Sohr Damb in 1925, Stein explored what was known as ancient Gedrosia. His first journey in 1927 took him to Dasht Valley through Kolva up the Mashkain River and to Khuzdar from where he turned southwards to Wadh and Drakalo.

“In 1941, Stein followed the alleged tracks of Alexander the Great and toured along the Hingol and Nal rivers before reaching Lasbela. North of Bela, he opened soundings at the large site of Niai Buthi, but unfortunately, this work remained largely unpublished,” said Mr Qasim.

The experts gave extensive details about various ancient sites of Mehrgarh dating as far back as 1,000 years. Mehrgarh, being the oldest site of all (8,000 BC), was said to be the most wonderful among all cultural inhabitations given the fact that this was one of the oldest places where people started cultivation. Besides, said Makin Khan, Mehrgarh was one of the unique human inhabitations which continued to thrive and survive for a record 4,500 years.

The seminar was told that the systematic archaeological survey and investigations had not yet been conducted by the Department of Archaeology and Museums. However, 29 archaeological sites and mounds had been declared protected under the Antiquities Act 1975 so far, it was stated.

Experts said a few protected sites had been destroyed by nature and human vandalism and did not exist any more, adding that these sites were required to be protected.

“Nevertheless, Balochistan is culturally very fertile and a number of archaeologically potential sites exist in its remote territories,” said an archaeologist.

The experts stressed the need for excavation for exploration particularly in the region extending towards south from Mula River and east of the Mor-Range, which had remained untouched or scarcely explored.