Archaeological Reconnaissance of Sites and Monuments in Tehsil Kallar Kahar, District Chakwal, Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

Chakwal is situated in Potohar Plateau of Punjab Province of Pakistan. Chronological sequence of Chakwal goes back to Prehistoric time. It underwent through biological era and successively crossed many cultural periods and ultimately reached British Period. It has great archaeological potential and had been subjected to a series of archaeological researches by many scholars. Chakwal comprised of our tehsils; Chawal, Choa Saidan Shah, Kallar Kahar and Talagang. Tehsil Kallar Kahar has been selected for documentation, analysis and comparison of archaeological sites and monuments. All of the surveyed archaeological mounds yielded a great number of cultural materials which assisted to establish a chronological periodization. The recovered artifacts include pottery of different wares, terracotta figurines and pipes, grinding stones, game discs and stone tools etc. while the archaeological monuments included one fort, five temples, two samadhis (tombs), four havelis, one ancient Hindu bazaar, two Shmashana Ghats, two ancient ponds, three wells, one Colonial period Railway Station and a Takht-i-Babri (Babar’s Throne). Chapter one deals with an introduction of research, physical features and historical background of District Chakwal, chapter two throw light upon previous explorations carries out in the same area, chapter three discusses fresh documentations of sites and monuments carried out in Chakwal and chapter four elaborate analysis and comparison of reported sites with other sites of the region as well as conclusion. All these standing monuments are incorporating rich indigenous and foreign cultural elements which exhibit cultural harmony.