33°44'35.95"N 72°49'17.48"E
290318
Excavations by Marshall at the Bhir mound, the earliest city,
reached the natural substrate at a depth of about 5.5 meters (18 ft.) and
encountered the remains of four superimposed structures. The earliest, of which
little is known because of its depth and destruction by later
construction activity, dates to the fifth century b. c.e. at the latest.
The second was in occupation during the fourth century b. c.e. and
would have witnessed the arrival of Alexander the Great. The third phase
corresponds to the period of Mau-ryan control, and the last probably belongs to
the period after the decline of the Mauryas and the arrival of the
bac-TRIAN GREEKS in the second century b. c.e. The excavations revealed
streets, lanes, and domestic houses. The quality of the stone masonry
developed over time from fairly rough to a much more compact form, and the
walls were covered in a mud plaster strengthened with straw.
Most of the available plans derive from the
third period, the Mauryan city The layout of the streets and houses is
irregular. It is evident that the main street and various squares were
retained throughout the life of the city, whereas houses were leveled and
rebuilt on occasion, but on the same site and often following a plan
similar to that used for their predecessors. Some lanes branching
off the main streets are very narrow. The drains running along the
main street were to take rainwater. There was no city sewage system, but
each house was equipped with a deep pit to receive human waste. Such
latrines were also placed in public squares. There were several types
of latrines. They have in common a deep circular well-like hole
extending up to seven meters (23 ft.) into the ground. Some were filled
with broken pottery shards to allow wastes to filter downward. Others were
lined with ceramic rings: One of these held 14 such liners, each
65 centimeters (26 in.) wide. A third type was filled with large
ceramic jars one on top of the other, each having the base removed to form
one continuous tube. Large stone rubbish bins were also strategically
placed in public areas, and excavations revealed broken pottery and animal
bones. The houses were a series of large rooms grouped around a courtyard.
windows looking onto the street were tall but very narrow. Many rooms were
small, and others had a street frontage and were probably shops. One
appears to have been the business of a shell worker, since Marshall found
much cut shell within.
As might be expected in the excavation of so
large an area of an ancient city, many artifacts were recovered. Beads had
many forms, with a preference for glass, car-nelian, and agate. Other
semiprecious stones included onyx, amethyst, beryl, and garnet. A
remarkable hoard of 1,167 silver coins was discovered in the second
city, including a silver Persian coin and two coins of Alexander the
Great. Among the bronzes, particular attention is given to a third-century
b. c.e. bowl made of an alloy containing 21.55 percent tin. This alloy and the
shape of the vessel recall those found in the Thai cemetery of ban
don TA PHET. Iron was used for weapons, particularly arrowheads, spears,
and daggers; for tools such as chisels, adzes, and tongs; nails for
construction purposes; and for hoes.
