The archaeological site of Nausharo is a Harrappan or Indus Civilization site, located in the Baluchistan province of Pakistan, about six kilometers from the Harappan capital city of Mehrgahr. The small settlement includes a pottery workshop, which was apparently abruptly abandoned, for its artifact assemblage includes nearly an entirely complete pottery tool kit, including chipped stone blades, kiln wasters and unfinished pottery.
Nausharo and the Potter's Workshop
The workshop dates to about 2500-2400 BC, the first Indus phase. At least four rooms of the settlement at Nausharo were dedicated to pottery manufacture, although other deposits of kilns and related artifacts were found elsewhere. The workshop tools included 12 flint blades or blade fragments, a bone tool, a terra cotta tool, a large clay coil shaped in a ring, a piece of red ochre, some raw clay, clay shavings, and two grinding stones. Additional evidence included baked clay receptacles, kilns, saggars, and jar base molds.
The remains of approximately 25 broken unfired clay vessels of various shapes were also discovered. All but one were unpainted. Most of the pedestalled dishes, perforated jars and large bowls were made of the same clay, a fine-grained sandy marl, and most of the vessels found throughout Nausharo were of the same material, between 2700-2300 BC.
Archaeology at Nausharo
Nausharo was excavated under the direction of Jean-François Jarrige between 1985 and 1996 by the Mission Française de l’Indus.
Sources
Méry, S., et al. 2007 A pottery workshop with flint tools on blades knapped with copper at Nausharo (Indus civilisation, ca. 2500 BC). Journal of Archaeological Science 34:1098-1116.
Samzun, A. 2006. Early Harappan remains, pottery and artifacts at Nausharo. pp 104-110 in Early Harappans and Indus-Sarasvati Civilization, vol. 1. Kaveri Books, New Delhi.
