Location | Takhar Province, Afghanistan |
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Coordinates | 37°19′30″N 69°31′30″E / 37.32500°N 69.52500°E |
Type | Settlement |
Area | Approximately 4 ha (9.9 acres) |
History | |
Cultures | Indus Valley civilisation |
Shortugai (Shortughai), in Darqad District of northern Afghanistan, was a trading colony of the Indus Valley civilization (or Harappan Civilization) established around 2000 BC on the Oxus river (Amu Darya) near the lapis lazuli mines.[1][2] It is considered to be the northernmost settlement of the Indus Valley Civilization.[3][4]
Another source of gold was along the Oxus river valley in northern Afghanistan where a trading colony of the Indus cities has been discovered at Shortughai. Situated far from the Indus Valley itself, this settlement may have been established to obtain gold, copper, tin and lapis lazuli, as well as other exotic goods from Central Asia.