page_title: Archaeological sites in Pakistan
section_title: Lower Paleolithic (Pre-Soanian)
hierarchical_section_title: Archaeological sites in Pakistan / Stone Age / Lower Paleolithic (Pre-Soanian)
caption_attribution_description: English: Soan near Adiala
context_page_description: Pakistan is home to many archaeological sites dating from Lower Paleolithic period to Mughal empire. The earliest known archaeological findings belong to the Soanian culture from the Soan Valley, near modern-day Islamabad. Soan Valley culture is considered as the best known Palaeolithic culture of Central Asia.Mehrgarh in Balochistan is one of the most important Neolithic sites dating from 7000 BCE to 2000 BCE. The Mehrgarh culture was amongst the first culture in the world to establish agriculture and livestock and live in villages. Mehrgarh civilization lasted for 5000 years till 2000 BCE after which people migrated to other areas, possibly Harappa and Mohenjo-daro. Harappa and Mohenjo-daro are the best known sites from the Indus Valley civilization.
context_section_description: Pre-Soanian culture in Pakistan corresponds to Oldowan culture dating back to the Mindel glaciation. Some findings in Punjab belong to this period.
caption: View of Soan valley and Soan River in background, near Adiala
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