Nearly 90 pounds of elephant ivory discovered at 800 year old workshop site in Pakistan, revealing new details about the prized possession’s economic role in ancient times
- Archaeologists in the ancient city of Bhanbore discovered a huge cache of ivory
- The small fragments indicate the ivory was used to make decorative items
- The items were likely used in trade with China, Iran, Iraq and other countries
- The team describe the site as the largest ivory workshop in the world
Archaeologists in Pakistan have found what they describe as ‘definitely the largest ivory workshop discovered in the world.’
The workshop was found at a renowned dig site in Bhanbhore, an ancient port city in Sindh province thought to be 2,100 years old, and a hub for international trade.
The dig was a joint project by the Sindh government’s Department of Culture and Antiquities, and the Italian Foreign Ministry.
A team of archaeologists in Bhanbhore, Pakistan discovered an ancient workshop dedicated to processing ivory, dating back an estimated 800 years
The team found close to 90 pounds of ivory fragments and pieces at the site, which has produced a steady flow of important historical artifacts since it was first discovered in 1928, according to a report in Haertz.
‘Nowhere else in the world have ivories been found in such a large quantity,’ archaeologist Simone Mantellini of the University of Bologna said.
The workshop itself appears to be around 800 years old, at which time ivory was a precious commodity similar in value to gold.
After analyzing the fragments, the team believe they were likely waste produced by a carpentry workshop as part of its work producing fine carvings for trade.
The source of the ivory are believed to be elephants brought into the country from India, where their tusks were harvested and processed.
Bhanbhore is a renowned excavation site first discovered in 1928, situated in Sindh province on the coast near Karachi
The team found close to 90 pounds of elephant ivory at the site, which they believe was used to create small decorative items used in international trade
Ivory appears to have been most valuable for its trade value as the output of the workshop would have been far too large for just the local market.
The shape and size of the ivory fragments likewise suggest the material was used for decorative purposes, crafted into small decorative ornaments.
The trade theory is supported by the discovery of a wide variety of pottery and earthenware at the site, including, bowls, pots, and other vessels that were likely used to store olive oil, wine, and garum, a condiment made from fermented fish.
The team believe the ancient city was a major trading port based on the wide range of storage vessels found at the side along with the small ivory fragments, showing influences from China, Iran, and Iraq
The vessels were believed to store a range of items, including olive oil, wine, and garum, a fermented fish condiment that was popular at the time
Pottery discovered at the site reveals a range of influences that further reinforces the fact that the ancient city was a tradition hub, with influences from China, Iraq and Iran.
‘The most interesting thing is that the shapes [of the pottery] continue to this day,’ archaeologist Agnese Fusaro said.
‘We can see a very interesting continuity of tradition throughout the centuries.’