PAR KOH

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

An archaeologically important rock shelter, about 45 m wide, up to 4.3 m high and more than 10 m horizontally deep. See also –>Bagh Darra, –>Rod Darra. ETYMOLOGY: -Par- is the name of a stream, -kho- means cave, and -darra- is the cocal word for a small valley, a canyon or gully (note 1). Achaeologists (note 2), however, prefer to call this cave after the nearby village of Sanghao (from 'sang ab' or 'sang aw- = rock water), the Sangau on AMS sheet NH43-5 Mardan (U502 series, 1958 edition) or Sangan, Sangao, and Sangau N34°28': E072°11' (nima.mil/geonames accessed 16.11.2003). SITUATION: The rock shelter lies near N34°28'00”: E72°12'40” (unspecified geodetic datum probably Everest 1830, DANI 1964: 5) and in a at a linear distance of 3 km approximately east of the village of Sanghao (N34°28': E072°11' (WGS84) and above the left (southern) bank of the Par Darra (Par Canyon), a khwar (torrent) full of gravels. The village of Sanghao itself stands at an elevation of 520 masl and at a distance of 35 km north-northwest of Mardan (34°12'N: 72°02'E) in a secluded corner of the hill ranges that separate Buner from the district of Mardan. GEOLOGY: The rock shelter is formed within cemented limestone conglomerate or, better, breccia, since most of the boulders are very poorly rounded to angular [note 3]. The deposit is at least 50 feet [15 m] thick, made up of limestone, fragments predominantly, from a few inches to several feet in diameter, derived from erosion of the limestone in the ridges above and deposited as a conglomerate probably during the Mindel glacial stage (400,000 to 500,000 years ago) (DANI 1965: 7). ARCHAEOLOGY: DANI (1963; 1964: location map, cave plan, cave section, plates IV, VIa, IX, X, XIa, XIb, XIIb) reports a rich stratified deposit of Middle Stone Age tools (Levallois-Mousterien) which were interpreted to relate Gandhara art to the socioeconomic context of the Scytho-Kushana period. ALLCHIN & ALLCHIN (1968) report from Sanghao Cae 10 feet of occupation deposit rich in bones, charcoal and stone tools. POSSEHL (1988: 193) lists from Sanghao Cave one 210 ±190 BP uncalibrated radiocarbon dating (PRL-190). PAKISTAN HERITAGE FOUNDATION (geocities.com/khizarhayats/Pakarch.htm, accessed 25.05.2004), literally quoted: The Middle Paleolithic culture is the developed stage of lowers Stone Age. Fire was regularly used; economy was based on hunting gathering & collection of fruit & vegetables. Men for the 1st time sheltered himself inside the rock shelters. The world famous middle Stone Age site located in the Mardan district known as Sanghao cave. Its 1st period is assigned to middle stone age sanghao cave industry to be placed of Mousterian phase of Afghanistan & central Asia, belongs to upper Pleistocene of 60,000 B.P to 20,000 BP. Middle stone age discoveries of Soan valley are important due to denticulate & Notched tools.e 10 feet of occupation deposit rich in bones, charcoal and stone tools. POSSEHL (1988: 193) lists from Sanghao Cave one 210 ±190 BP uncalibrated radiocarbon dating (PRL-190). PAKISTAN HERITAGE FOUNDATION (geocities.com/khizarhayats/Pakarch.htm, accessed 25.05.2004), literally quoted: The Middle Paleolithic culture is the developed stage of lowers Stone Age. Fire was regularly used; economy was based on hunting gathering & collection of fruit & vegetables. Men for the 1st time sheltered himself inside the rock shelters. The world famous middle Stone Age site located in the Mardan district known as Sanghao cave. Its 1st period is assigned to middle stone age sanghao cave industry to be placed of Mousterian phase of Afghanistan & central Asia, belongs to upper Pleistocene of 60,000 B.P to 20,000 BP. Middle stone age discoveries of Soan valley are important due to denticulate & Notched tools.