Xenolithic Stone Tools Indicate Long-Distance Raw Material Transport

Some Harappan stone tools were crafted from rock types sourced hundreds of kilometers away.

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Rohri Hills chert was widely distributed across Indus settlements, illustrating organized quarry networks.

Archaeological analysis of lithic artifacts reveals the use of non-local stone materials at multiple Harappan sites. Petrographic studies show that certain tool stones originated from distant geological zones. Transportation of these materials likely occurred through trade networks. The Mature Harappan phase saw widespread standardization in tool production. Long-distance movement of raw material implies organized exchange systems. Workshops adapted imported stone to local needs. Resource acquisition extended beyond immediate territory. Geological diversity shaped tool variety. Material sourcing reflects network depth.

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Systemically, non-local stone usage indicates integrated trade corridors. Access to varied resources enhanced technological flexibility. Exchange networks strengthened interregional ties. Material transport required logistical coordination. Procurement expanded economic resilience. Resource diversity supported specialization. Connectivity shaped craftsmanship.

For toolmakers, working unfamiliar stone required adaptive skill. Traders facilitated exchange across terrain and river routes. Communities handled materials that originated beyond visible horizon. Stone carried geographic memory within it. Daily life incorporated distant landscapes indirectly. Craft bridged territory. Civilization traveled in rock.

Source

Encyclopaedia Britannica - Indus civilization

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