🤯 Did You Know (click to read)
Lapis lazuli from Afghanistan was also highly prized in Mesopotamia and Egypt during the Bronze Age.
Lapis lazuli artifacts discovered at Indus sites indicate long-distance procurement networks. The primary ancient source of lapis lazuli was the Badakhshan region of Afghanistan. Transporting this stone required coordinated trade routes across mountainous terrain. Lapis was shaped into beads and ornamental objects. The material appears in Mature Harappan contexts between 2600 and 1900 BCE. Its presence reflects economic connectivity beyond immediate geography. Exchange networks extended across Central and South Asia. Luxury materials enhanced social display. Trade expanded prestige.
💥 Impact (click to read)
Systemically, lapis acquisition demonstrates the breadth of Harappan trade systems. Long-distance exchange required intermediaries and negotiation. Imported luxury goods reinforced elite status. Resource procurement diversified economic interaction. Trade corridors strengthened diplomatic contact. Material flow connected distant ecological zones. Commerce extended influence.
For traders, transporting lapis required endurance across hazardous routes. Artisans polished deep blue stone into wearable adornment. Consumers valued rarity embedded in each bead. Children growing up in Indus cities encountered materials from unseen mountains. Luxury symbolized network reach. Value traveled far. Civilization stretched beyond rivers.
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