Kot Diji, Archaeological settlement in Khairpur District, Pakistan
Kot Diji is an archaeological settlement in Khairpur District, Pakistan, representing one of the early sites of the Indus Valley Civilization. The remains today cover a site with a central mound that stands about 12 meters tall, extending roughly 180 meters long and 120 meters wide.
The settlement began around 3300 BCE and shows layers from both the early and mature phases of the Harappan culture. Excavations have uncovered pottery, tools, and ornaments that document the transition between these two periods.
The name Kot Diji comes from the local dialect referring to a fort that sits above the archaeological remains. Visitors today can see mud-brick structures left by early inhabitants, whose building techniques remain visible throughout the excavated areas.
The site sits roughly 24 kilometers (15 miles) south of Khairpur town in Sindh province, near an old channel of the Indus River across from Mohenjo-daro. The area is easiest to reach during cooler months when temperatures are more comfortable and daylight hours allow for a visit.
A layer of burned material separates older structures from later building phases, pointing to a fire that may have marked the end of the first occupation period. This layer is visible at several points across the excavation and helps researchers distinguish between different chapters of the settlement story.
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