PROTO-HISTORIC NOMADISM IN CENTRALASIA AND MEGALITHIC GRAVES IN DISTRICT GHIZER, GILGIT-BALTISTAN (PAKISTAN)

Abstract

This essay offers a concept about the movement of nomads in Central Asia, as marked by the circular planned megalithic graves reported from different localities. Recent explorations in District Ghizer have added more to our previous considerations about the similar erections from Gilgit-Baltistan. This inquiry attempts to unfold the study about such circles in four parts: firstly, it lets us know about the archaeological significance of such antiquities in broader context of Central Asia; secondly, it presents the previous investigations on the issue, particularly related to the findings from Ghizer; thirdly, it discusses the details of megalithic graves from the said area considering preservation, lost elements and surviving features; and fourthly, based on a comparative study of the features, author reached a plausible conclusion of the study, which is presented as the last part of this paper.