Introduction

Mehrgarh is a prehistoric site located in Balochistan, Pakistan. Archaeologists have found evidence of early human settlements in the area dating back to around 7000 BCE. The site provides valuable insights into the development of human civilization in the region. One of the questions that archaeologists have been trying to answer is whether the people who lived in Mehrgarh were hunters or herders or both. In this essay, we will discuss why archaeologists think that many people who lived in Mehrgarh were hunters to start with and that herding became more important later.

The Evidence

Archaeologists have found a variety of evidence at the Mehrgarh site that suggests that the early inhabitants were hunters. Some of the evidence includes:

- The remains of wild animals such as deer, wild boar, and gazelle that were hunted for food.
- The presence of stone tools that were used for hunting and butchering animals.
- The absence of domesticated animals such as sheep, goats, and cows.

However, over time, the evidence suggests that the people of Mehrgarh began to transition from hunting to herding. Some of the evidence includes:

- The appearance of domesticated animals such as sheep, goats, and cows.
- The presence of animal pens and enclosures.
- The remains of dairy products such as cheese.

The Reasons

There are several reasons why archaeologists believe that the people of Mehrgarh were hunters to start with and that herding became more important later. Some of the reasons include:

- The availability of wild animals: The Mehrgarh region was home to a variety of wild animals that were hunted for food. This made hunting a more viable option for survival in the early stages of human settlement.
- The development of agriculture: As agriculture developed in the region, people began to settle in one place and domesticated animals became more important for food and other resources such as milk, wool, and leather.
- The influence of neighboring civilizations: As the people of Mehrgarh came into contact with neighboring civilizations, they likely learned about the benefits of herding and began to adopt it themselves.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the evidence suggests that the people of Mehrgarh were hunters to start with and that herding became more important later. This transition from hunting to herding was likely influenced by a variety of factors including the availability of wild animals, the development of agriculture, and the influence of neighboring civilizations. The study of prehistoric sites like Mehrgarh provides valuable insight into the development of human civilization and how it has evolved over time.

Archaeologists who excavated the site found evidence of many kinds of animal bones from the earliest levels. they found bones of different animals like deer, pig, sheep, goat and cattle bones are most common suggesting that this was animal that generally kept by the people and thus, archaeologists think that people in mehrgarh were hunters to start and later herding became more important.