Kot Diji

Kot Diji is an archaeological site located near Khairpur in Sindh, Pakistan. It is considered one of the most important proto-historic sites of the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC), predating the mature Harappan phase. Kot Diji represents an early phase of urbanisation and provides valuable insights into the cultural and technological developments that led to the rise of the IVC.

The site is characterised by a fortified citadel raised on a high platform and a lower town. Excavations have revealed evidence of a well-planned settlement with houses built of mud bricks and stone. Pottery found at Kot Diji is distinctive, featuring a red slip and black painted decorations, often consisting of horizontal lines and geometric patterns. These ceramics are known as "Kot Dijian pottery" and serve as a marker for this early phase of the IVC.

Other significant finds from Kot Diji include terracotta figurines, beads, bangles, and copper tools. Evidence of a massive fire at the site suggests a possible period of destruction or conflict. However, the reasons for the site's abandonment remain a subject of ongoing archaeological research.

Kot Diji is crucial for understanding the development of the Indus script, the evolution of urban planning in the region, and the transition from earlier Neolithic cultures to the fully developed Harappan civilization. It offers a window into the lives of the people who lived in the Indus Valley during the third millennium BCE and their contributions to the foundation of one of the world's earliest urban societies.