Rehman Dheri (Rahman Dheri)
Rehman Dheri · Rahman Dheri · RCD
Kunal–Kot Diji–Early Harappan 4000–2900 BCE·Kot Diji / Kunal-related Early Harappan (Gomal culture)·🇵🇰 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Dera Ismail Khan District, Gomal Plain 22 km north of Dera Ismail Khan near Hathala, Pakistan
About
About Rehman Dheri (Rahman Dheri)
Early Harappan planned city (c.4000–2900 BCE) on the Gomal Plain near Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — 22 ha rectangular walled town (550×350 m) with grid street plan, mudbrick fortification and industrial quarter, excavated 1976–92 by F.A. Durrani and earlier by Dani. Rahman Dheri is the best-preserved Early Harappan urban plan preceding Mature Harappan, with bead workshops, ivory seal (with scorpion and geometric motifs), rhinoceros and elephant faunal remains, and Kunal-culture parallels; UNESCO Tentative List as earliest planned town in South Asia, contemporary with Kot Diji but larger and more formal.
Why it mattersMost complete Early Harappan urban plan — proves Harappan grid planning predates Mature phase by 500 years; Gomal–Ghaggar link to Kunal culture.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Why abandoned before Mature Harappan fluorescence?
- 02Was grid imposed or organic?
Theories
- 01Gomal corridor as west-east Harappan diffusion route; Rahman Dheri as prototype for Harappa itself
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.4000–3300 BCE (Rahman Dheri phase I–II); walled 3300 BCE
- Period
- Kunal–Kot Diji–Early Harappan 4000–2900 BCE
- Culture
- Kot Diji / Kunal-related Early Harappan (Gomal culture)
- Builders
- Early Harappan urban planners
- Purpose
- Earliest planned Indus city and craft-administrative center on Gomal–Indus trade route
- Abandoned
- c.2900 BCE (shift to Harappan core)
- Rediscovered
- 1971 discovery; 1976–92 Durrani excavation
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.4000–3300 BCE
Phase I–II: Kunal-related village with handmade ware and ivory seal
c.3300–2900 BCE
Walled grid town 550×350 m with industrial quarter and street drains
1976–92
Durrani excavation reveals complete street grid and fortification
On the ground
Structures & features
31.9459° N · 70.8851° E · 190 m · 2 mapped features
Walled rectangular town
city wall550×350 m fortified grid with N-S streets and drains
31.9460° N · 70.8850° EIndustrial quarter
workshopBead and shell workshop area with kilns
31.9455° N · 70.8855° E
Gallery