A rock carving at Kirthar Range -- File Photo

DADU, May 7: Carvings of a bullock-cart found on a rock in Pachhal Dhoro hills in Khirthar range of mountains date back to 10,000 BC, claim research scholar and historian Prof Aziz Kingrani.

He told this correspondent on Saturday that he had inspected the carvings in five historical sites dating back to Stone Age near spring of Hur Dhoro, Zainy Dhoro, Peepal spring, Pachhal and Sado-Mado hills in Khirthar range, 50 kilometres away from Wahi Pandhi town in Johi taluka. He said the carving of bullock-cart he found on a rock in Pachhal hills was more than 10,000 BC old. The carvings mostly belonged to Neolithic Stone Age as the bullock-cart was used during that period and it was older than the Moenjodaro civilisation, he said.

The other carvings found on rocks at Sado Mado, Hur Dhoro, Zainy Dhoro and Peepal spring included those of tower of sun worshiping, unicorn, Sindh ibex, bull, stupas, lion, wolf, camel, dancing woman, right swastika (a symbol of power according to Buddhists).

He said that unicorn was worshiped by Moenjodaro people and the symbol was found on rocks at four different sites in Khirthar range.

A team of the Society for Research, Heritage and Development, an NGO working on historical and archaeological sites, recently visited these sites along with the research scholar.

Khadim Hussain Soomro, chief operating officer of the NGO, said his organisation had, in collaboration with the district government, launched research led by Prof Kingrani for the preservation of the historical sites.

He said that swastika was a pre-historic symbol for prosperity and power and tower of sun worship was also related to pre-historic period.

Dadu DCO Dr Niaz Abbasi said that Khirthar Mountain range was full of treasures of historical sites but they were never highlighted. The district government had started the research through the NGO to publicise these sites and rock carvings to help promote tourism, he said.

He said that all kinds of historical and archaeological sites scattered across Khirthar Mountain range would be preserved.