Shortughai — Oxus Harappan Outpost
Mature Harappan (2600–2000 BCE)·Harappan frontier (Shortugai Indus colony)·🇦🇫 Takhar Province, Afghanistan
About
About Shortughai — Oxus Harappan Outpost
Shortughai — Oxus Harappan Outpost in Takhar Province, Afghanistan is a Mature Harappan (2600–2000 BCE) ancient-city attributed to Harappan frontier (Shortugai Indus colony). Northernmost Harappan trading colony 2.5 ha on Oxus near lapis and tin sources with Harappan seals and lapis lazuli. Francfort Shortughai Harappan colony 780 km north Mohenjo-daro with Indus seals, lapis mine.
Why it mattersKey Gandharan–Kushan monastery illustrating Buddhist expansion
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Gandhara art evolution
- 02Kushan imperial network
Theories
- 01Monastic economy
- 02Greco-Buddhist fusion
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 2600 BCE
- Period
- Mature Harappan (2600–2000 BCE)
- Culture
- Harappan frontier (Shortugai Indus colony)
- Purpose
- Northernmost Harappan trading colony 2.5 ha on Oxus near lapis and tin sources with Harappan seals and lapis lazuli
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 2600 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1900 CE
Modern excavation
On the ground
Structures & features
37.3400° N · 69.5400° E · 500 m · 4 mapped features
Shortughai — Oxus Harappan Outpost — Citadel Mound
citadelCitadel
37.3401° N · 69.5401° EShortughai — Oxus Harappan Outpost — Lower Town Street
streetStreet and shops
37.3398° N · 69.5402° EShortughai — Oxus Harappan Outpost — Bazaar Axis
bazaarBazaar and ivories deposit
37.3404° N · 69.5398° EShortughai — Oxus Harappan Outpost — Storage Magazine
storageStorage
37.3396° N · 69.5399° E