Swan Valley - The First Settlement in Punjab

 

Soan Valley, West Punjab

It is said that rivers give birth to civilisations and if a river dries up or changes its path, the civilisation also dies eventually. However, some rivers continue to exist become cradle of history as one civilisation after another rises and falls on their banks. Soan River has proven to be one such asset which has seen the rise and fall of many civilisations and cultures. .

Also pronounced as Swan Valley, the beautiful Soan Valley is the home of Khatri clan of Sawhneys, also pronounced as Sahnis.

Though Soan is considered to be one of Pakistan’s smaller rivers, this is an important stream of the Pothohar region and historically has been the centre of pre-historic Soanian culture. Emerging from the foothills of Patriata and Murree, Soan River eventually falls into Indus River near Makkar, the ancestral home of Makkar Khatri clan.

Soanian Sites in Shivalik Hills

 The last names of many Pothohar region is historically derrived from this region:

• Sawhney or Sahni from Sawhn or Soan Valley
• Alagh from Alagh rivulet(Link)
  
• Gambhir from Gambhir rivulet (Link)
  
• Wahi from the Wah (Link)
  

Soanian Culture

It is believed that the earliest trace of human habitation in Punjab traces to the Soan Valley located between Indus and the Jhelum rivers. This period goes back to the first inter-glacial period in the second Ice Age, from which remnants of stone and flint tools have been found.The Soanian is an archaeological culture of the Lower Paleolithic in the Sivalik Hills of the Indian subcontinent.

"It was here that some of the earliest signs of humans have been discovered during the excavations of prehistoric mounds,” said Director of Taxila Institute of Asian Civilization at Quaid-i-Azam University, Dr Ashraf Khan.

Soan Civilization

The term "Soan Culture" was first used by Hellmut De Terra in 1936, but D. N. Wadia had identified the presence of these archaeological implements in 1928. 

Oldest Relics in Indian Subcontinent

According to Dr Khan, Soan River Valley is where 500,000 year old relics of the Stone Age man have been found, identifying it as the place with the earliest human inhabitation in the region. At Adiala and Khasala Kalan, about 16 km (9.9 mi) from Rawalpindi terrace on the bend of the river, hundreds of edged pebble tools were discovered. 

 Tools up to two million years old have been recovered. In the Soan River gorge, many fossil bearing rocks are exposed on the surface. 14 million year old fossils of gazelle, rhinoceros, crocodile, giraffe and rodents have been found there. Soanian artifacts were manufactured on quartzite pebbles, cobbles, and occasionally on boulders, all derived from various fluvial sources on the Siwalik landscape.Some of these fossils are on display at the Pakistan Museum of Natural History in Islamabad.

Soanian Artifacts

Amb Sharif

The temple of Amb Shareef is located in the area of Soan Valley. These buildings hold a special interest for the archaeologists. Originally, the whole of this area was a fort in which there was one palace and two temples. Nowadays, only the palace and one temple exist. There used to be different statues in this fort but nothing is left of them now.

Amb Sharif Temple

The name suggests its a Hindu temple dedicated to the Mother Goddess of the natives, pronounced "Amba" in Sanskrit and "Maa Ambe" or "Amma" in local dialect. In Hindu mythology, Amba is the name of Adi Shakti or Shakti or Durga, consort of Sadashiv, the Cosmic Male.

This temple and palace is in ruins now. This place holds immense archaeological importance and excavations have been going on here since many years and many precious and priceless artifacts and statues have been taken away by the sm   ugglers and local people. This place still possesses invaluable treasure underneath it.

Design of Amb Sharif Temple

Narsingh Phowar

Narsingh Phowar (Spring) is the name of a site in Soan Valley where you can find abeautiful temple amidst natural water springs. The temple buildings still retain their original shape although rapidly deteriorating. There is a beautiful waterfall, greenery at its best, mind blowing water springs and amazing archaeological as well as historical temples at this place

Narsingh Phowar

According to local legends, there was a Jogi sage with the name of Narsingh Daas who came to this place to pray. The drops of the water spring sprays on to the adjoining hills and that is why how this place got the name of ‘Narsingh Phowar’. 

In the past, in the month of Vaisakh, a Vaisakhi mela used to be celebrated at this place where Yaatrees (pilgrims) would come from distant towns and villages. .

Tulhaath Fort

Tulhaath fort is a place located near Har Deo Sodhi (سو د ھی) and Sodhi Baala on Kathwayi-Jahlar road. This site is considered the original location of Khatri clan - Sodhis. 

A rocky track leads to the fort of Tulhaath. According to Baba Sarwar Awan, this was a fort with a defensive wall built on a high mountain or cliff. According to locals, it dates back to the stone age. The stones used in the construction of this palace are of rectangular shape, lengthy and extremely heavy. There is a water spring flowing nearby and its name is ‘Gaibh’. A defensive wall built to protect the palace is still present along with the rock used as the gate.

Stones Walls of Tulhaath Fort

This wall was most likely built to secure the site from marauding barbarians from Afghanistan hills.

Ratrirri Ruins

These ruins are scattered over quite a large area near Har deo Sodhi (Soan Valley).  It might not be interesting for a majority of people out there but those who share an interest in archaeology will find it fascinating.

Stone Walls of Ratrirrri

References

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soan_River
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soanian
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0278416507000025
• http://visitsoonvalley.com/
• https://www.dawn.com/news/707009/soan-river-witness-to-rise-and-fall-of-many-civilisations