The mature Harappan Occupation at Gandi Omar Khan in the Gomal Plain

Archaeological research carried out separately by the Department of Archaeology of the University of Peshawar (Swati and Ali 1998; Ali and Khan 2001; Ali and Jan 2009a) and the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Government of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwah (former NWFP) (Rahman 1997a & 1997b; Ali and Jan 2005; 2009b) in the Gomal plain, northwest Pakistan is revolutionising our understanding of the development of the Indus Civilisation. Archaeological excavations conducted at Gumla, Hathala and Rehman Dheri in 1970s & 80s suggested that while this part of the subcontinent showed clear evidence for important cultural developments in the 4th and 3rd millennia BC, it appeared to lack evidence for occupation during the Mature Harappan period and was thus outside of the cultural sphere of the Indus Civilisation. However, recent surveys and excavations haveshown that there are numerous Mature Harappan sites in the Gomal plain (Jan et al 2008), and this forces a re-evaluation of thisregion and also its place in the development of the Indus Civilisation.