for ground stone axes all the Neolithic sites can be classified into the geographical regions as given in the following chart. Excavations in the late 20th century at Mehrgarh, located on the KARACHI plains on the frontier between Baluchistan and Sindh, about 150 km from Quetta (now in Pakistan), provide evidence of some five or six thousand years of occupation comprising two major periods: (i) Period I (8000-6000 BC) characterized by a ceramic (LACKING pottery) culture, and (II) Period II (5000-3000 BC) characterized by the emergence of pottery and improvements in agriculture. Two sub phases of Period I are apparent from the mound artifacts-Phase I and Phase II. Phase I yielded bones of wild animals, while Phase II yielded bones of domesticated cattle, sheep and goat. The main tools of Phase I were stone blades, including lunates and triangles, some probably mounted in wooden hafts with bitumen mastic. The preponderance of bones of wild animals suggests continued dependence on hunting. Houses of mud brick began to be constructed in this phase. In Phase II, cattle (apparently the Indian humped variety) predominated over game animals. A new type of building, the small regular compartments, first-ap­peared during this phase. Period I provides a clear picture of an early agricultural settlement. The use of sea shells and various semi-precious stones, including turquoise and lapis lazuli, indicates the existence of trade networks extending from the coast and perhaps also from Central Asia. STRIKING changes took place during Period II, perhaps due to some major tectonic event around 5500 BC. In this period, nearly all features of the Period I existed, though in altered form. The use of pottery increased. The granary structures (first appeared in Period I) proliferated on a larger scale. The era of the monumental architecture seems to have begun in this period (Period I was the era of DOMESTIC architecture). Period II also provides evi­dence of use of copper and ivory for the first time. Mehrgarh is the first known agricultural settle­ment of South Asia. The Neolithic Culture of Kashmir valley (Burzahom and Gufkral) is characterized by pit- dwellings with well-made floors smeared with red- ochre as well as dwellings in the open.