Zhob

A valley in north Baluchistan, western Pakistan, with a number of sites of a Chalcolithic culture, c 4th-3rd millennia BC. Rana Ghundai, Periano Ghundai, and Moghul Ghundai are the best-known sites. The pottery is painted black or red over a red slip; decoration may be stylized humped cattle and buck and groups of vertical lines linking narrow horizontal bands. Other artifacts include female figurines and copper. Buildings were of mudbrick and burials by cremation. Related material was found stratified beneath that of the Indus Civilization at Harappa, and there are similarities to the painted ware of Tepe Hissar in northern Iran. This phase was succeeded by the 'Incinerary Pot' phase, with burials placed in vessels under house floors, after disarticulation and some cremation.

A valley in northern Baluchistan, Pakistan, with a number of sites of the 4th and 3rd millennia bc, of which the best known are Periano Ghundai and Moghul Ghundai. The so-called ‘Zhob cult’ phase of the 3rd millennium bc is characterized by goggle-eyed hooded female figurines of a type labelled ‘Zhob mother goddesses’, bull figurines and some pottery showing connections with the Harappan civilization. This phase was succeeded by the ‘Incinerary Pot’ phase, with burials placed in vessels under house floors, after disarticulation and some cremation.