Burzahom archaeological site

The Burzahom site is a prehistoric settlement in the village of the same name in the Srinagar District. It is to the northwest of Srinagar on the Naseem-Shalimar road. The elevation of the site is above sea-level. It is the northernmost excavated Neolithic site of India. The site is on an ancient Pleistocene lake bed. The location is in a high terrace which is part of the flood of the Jhelum River and has Karewa soil means clay formation. The site has a commanding view of the Dal Lake which is about away. In the Kashmiri language 'Burz' means "birch", a tree species (that generally grows in the elevation range of in the Himalayas), which is found in the excavated housing area in the form of roofing material, and thus confirming the existence of the tree even in the pre-historic Neolithic times. ==History==

The first trial diggings at the Burzahom site were a limited exercise in 1936, carried out by the Yale–Cambridge Expedition headed by Helmut de Terra and Dr. Thomson Paterson. The Frontier Circle of the Archaeological Survey of India made detailed investigations of the site between 1960 and 1971; these were carried out by T.N. Khazanchi and his associates. The extensive excavations done at this site, unearthing stratified cultural deposits, were the first of their type in Kashmir. In 1944, Mortimer Wheeler, Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India had conducted the first stratified archaeological excavations on the lines of geological model at other sites. Based on a similar model the Burzahom site has been named as the Northern Neolithic Culture in view of its distinctive structural features with profusion of tools made of bones and stones and tools representing the ritualistic practices. Gufkral represents another related site in the area, near the town of Tral. Gufkral is located at Bandar village in Hardware area of Tral, 5 km from the sub district headquarter. The village falls between two nalla (streams) on an extensive deposit of Karewa (elevated table-land) where people used to live in ancient times. Also, Haripriya, and Anantapur, in the same area, are related. The management and the protection of the Burzahom site, including the buffer zones, are under the jurisdiction of the Archaeological Survey of India and the State Department of Archaeology conforming to the Ancient Monuments and Sites Remains Act 1958 (Amended in 2010). This site was nominated on 15 April 2014 for inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is yet to be approved. ==Discovery==

, crossing over the Himalayas. The people who resided here were characterized as "long headed dolichocranic". Two female skulls, different from the male skulls, were also reported. The finds did not indicate of any external ethnic intrusions during the entire Neolithic period but showed more affinity to the Harappan people. Burzahom represents the southernmost extent of what is known as Northern Neolithic culture of Asia. Period III Some Megalithic Period Menhirs are next to Neolithic pits, suggesting a gradual transition between the two phases. The Menhirs, boulders formed due to the varying temperatures, were brought down from the hills with great effort by the people and installed to mark notable events of the community. These are rough in shape, huge and of considerable weight and height, and are "free-standing". Craftsmanship was superior during this period with finds of wheel made durable hard red ware, copper objects, and tools made of bone and stone. Structures made of rubble were also found. Finds of a few copper arrowheads indicated knowledge of metallurgy. Period IV Period IV (dated to the 3rd–4th century AD), the last phase of human occupation at Burzahom, was related to the early Historical Period. The structures built were superior compared to the earlier period, and were made from mud-bricks. Pottery was also superior, of red ware type with slips and wheel turned. Some iron antiquaries were also found. ==Preservation==

The site is maintained in the form that has been excavated, representing the natural setting of the Neolithic people. The exposed pits and the layout are well protected and well preserved. ==See also==