Editing History of Pakistan (section)

== Prehistory<!--'Ancient Pakistan' redirects here--> ==
=== Paleolithic period ===
The [[Soanian]] is archaeological culture of the [[Lower Paleolithic]], [[Acheulean]]. It is named after the [[Soan Valley]] in the Sivalik Hills, near modern-day [[Islamabad]] and is dated between c.774,000 and c.11,700 BCE.<ref name="murray">{{cite book |last=Murray |first=Tim |author-link=Tim Murray (archaeologist) |title=Time and Archaeology |url=https://archive.org/details/timearchaeology00murr |url-access=limited |publisher=Routledge |year=1999 |location=London | page=[https://archive.org/details/timearchaeology00murr/page/n98 84] |isbn=978-0-415-11762-3}}</ref>

=== Neolithic period ===
{{Main|Mehrgarh}}
[[Mehrgarh]] is an important [[Neolithic]] site discovered in 1974, which shows early evidence of farming and herding,<ref name="thoughtco">{{cite web |url=https://www.thoughtco.com/mehrgarh-pakistan-life-indus-valley-171796 |title=Mehrgarh, Pakistan and Life in the Indus Valley Before Harappa |author=Hirst, K. Kris |date=30 May 2019 |website=ThoughtCo}}</ref> and dentistry.<ref name="coppa">{{cite journal |last=Coppa|first=A.|author2=L. Bondioli |author3=A. Cucina |author4=D. W. Frayer |author5=C. Jarrige |author6=J. F. Jarrige |author7=G. Quivron |author8=M. Rossi |author9=M. Vidale |author10=R. Macchiarelli |title=Palaeontology: Early Neolithic tradition of dentistry|journal=Nature|volume=440|pages=755–756|doi=10.1038/440755a |pmid=16598247 |issue=7085|year=2006|bibcode=2006Natur.440..755C|s2cid=6787162}}</ref> The site dates back to 7000–5500 [[Common Era|BCE]] and is located on the Kachi Plain of [[Balochistan, Pakistan|Balochistan]]. The residents of Mehrgarh lived in mud brick houses, stored grain in granaries, fashioned tools from [[Copper Age|copper]], cultivated barley, wheat, [[jujube]]s and dates, and herded sheep, goats and cattle. As the civilization progressed (5500–2600 BCE) residents began to engage in crafts, including [[Flintknapper|flint knapping]], [[Tanning (leather)|tanning]], bead production, and [[metalworking]]. The site was occupied continuously until 2600 BCE,<ref>[[Gregory Possehl|Possehl, Gregory L.]] 1996. "Mehrgarh." ''Oxford Companion to Archaeology'', edited by Brian Fagan. Oxford University Press, Oxford</ref> when climatic changes began to occur. Between 2600 and 2000 BCE, region became more arid and Mehrgarh was abandoned in favor of the Indus Valley,<ref name=guimet>
[http://www.guimet.fr/Indus-and-Mehrgarh-archaeological The Centre for Archaeological Research Indus Balochistan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928044049/http://www.guimet.fr/Indus-and-Mehrgarh-archaeological |date=28 September 2007 }}, Musée National des Arts Asiatiques&nbsp;– Guimet
</ref> where a [[Indus Valley Civilization|new civilization]] was in the early stages of development.<ref>
Chandler, Graham. 1999. [http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/199905/traders.of.the.plain.htm "Traders of the Plain".] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070218235318/http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/199905/traders.of.the.plain.htm |date=18 February 2007 }}  ''Saudi Aramco World''.
</ref>