A Study of Qanάt and Gabarbands in Balochistan
Keywords:
Balochistan, prehistoric climate, gabar-bands, Qanãt.Abstract
The accumulation of recent findings from an archaeological standpoint observed from different parts of Balochistan necessitates a new overview of a prehistoric irrigation system of this region. It was assumed that 4,000 years ago the population of Balochistan was sparsely distributed and the catchments covered with lush green forests. However, agrarian settlements in different areas during the post and mature Harappan periods exhibited a tremendous anthropogenic pressure on fragile ecosystems that resulted in metamorphic changes in past climate of these regions. The presence of gabar-bands, intended for the control of flooding surface water, and constructing Qanãt, in different parts of Balochistan are clear evidence of climatic changes from subtropical to semiarid desert. In this paper the prehistoric climate of Balochistan will be discussed in the light of gabar-bands and Qanãt. Similarly, the history of these ancient technologies will also be discussed.
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