Generally, it is believed that Islamabad is a modern city built some 60 years ago and does not have a long history to boast of. But the prehistory and history of Islamabad is located in its surroundings. There are not only historical buildings and forts but also prehistoric rock carvings and cup-marks.
From Pharwala village a series of the rocks starts on the right bank of the Soan river and terminates at the Peja village where there are cup-marks engraved on the rocks. Apart from cup marks, geometric engravings are also carved on the rocks.
I have been traveling in the Potohar region since 2003 and found many prehistoric and historic sites – in Potohar in general and Islamabad in particular – which were later on used by Hindus as sacred spaces. One such site is located near the village of Bobri in Islamabad.
Cup-marks at Narola village just opposite the embassy of Saudi Arabia, Islamabad
Other sacred rocks are located in Phulgran village of Islamabad. These standing stones and rock shelters overlook the agricultural fields. These were possibly invoked by ancient people before the sowing the seeds. One finds some votive tables there. This indicates that ancient people offered the tables to their gods whenever the crop was in surplus.
Series of such sacred rocks are located in the villages of Darwala, Bora Bangial, Peja, Gora Mast, Bhimbar Tarar and Bagh Joghian where there are a number of sacred spaces depicting geometric signs and cupules – possibly for the performances of the rituals by the humans in ancient as weel as in modern times. The sacred rocks emerge from the Soan river at Bagh Joghian and run east and southwest. These rocks terminate at the village of Peja in the shape of three natural standing stones making trinity. These standing stones could be the trinity for the Hindus. These natural landscapes were domesticated by ancient people through various rituals. And so, through the performance of various rituals these natural landscapes were converted into cultural landscapes and a number of shrines were made to magnify the power of the supernatural.
A child pointing to a cup-marked slab which is used in the wall enclosure in Narola village
In ancient times it also attracted people who worshipped nature’s wonders. In order to magnify the nature’s wonders particularly the rocks and stones, in ancient times people made geometric designs and cup marks or cupules.
There are many such rock art sites in and around Islamabad where one finds both geometric designs and cup-marks carved on the rocks. The most amazing cup-mark sites are located in Bagh Joghian, Sain, Phulgran, Bobri, Gumbat and Peja. Apart from these engravings, there are some sites in the heart of Islamabad city which only depict geometric signs. One such site is situated in the Buland Market in G-10/1 sector of Islamabad.
The Peja village is situated 12 km north of Airport Chowk in Islamabad. The word Peja is phonetic variation of puja meaning worship. There are three standing stones here which were possibly worshiped by Hindus before partition because one finds pottery of modern period lying close to these rocks. They may be objects of worship by people in ancient times too. Close to these rocks are some geometric engravings and cup marks probably magnifying their majesty.
The cup-marks of the Peja are carved rocks which lie south of the three standing stones. There are three cupule sites at Peja. All the three sites are in similar horizontal style. In the first site there are total 16 cup marks, each running in double lines or rows. Each row has 7 cups marks flanked by one on either side. The second has also same pattern with 16 cup marks running in double lines or rows with each row depicting 7 cupules flanked by each on the either side of the row. However, near these cup-marks are squares and some vertical and horizontal lines. The symbolism of 16 is very interesting. And at some sites one finds 14 cup marks running in double rows with each row having 7 cup marks. It may reflect the cosmology of the people in prehistoric and protohistoric periods. It might have been used for ritual purposes. Near these cupules are some geometric markings both old and modern. These might have also been used as game boards.
Cupules have been reported from different parts of the Pakistan but those of Peja and Gumbat in Islamabad are interesting and they appear to have been either used for rituals or perhaps games
Some cup- marks have also been observed on the surface of a rock shelter in G-13/4 sector of Islamabad. These cupules also resemble those of Peja and other cup-mark sites in Islamabad. There are a total of 14 cup-marks but some are unfinished. Close to the cupules are some ancient and modern engravings. The most interesting the sign with three circles with an attached line.
I also discovered petroglyphs in G-10/1 in October 2010. There are two rows of rocks lying west and east of Usman mosque at Buland Market in G-10/1. The eastern row of the rocks depicts some carvings. They lie on the ancient route that led to Shah Allah Ditta caves and beyond Taxila. After the development of the sectors of G-10 and G-11 many such rocks were destroyed. It is possible that some of the destroyed rocks may have depicted the carvings because the discovery of the petrogylphs in G-10 sector provides evidence that there would have been many more such sites.
There is one rock shelter and a boulder in G-10/1 which depicts a total of 25 geometric engravings. The rock shelter is close to the eastern gate of the mosque. There are some squares with inner horizontal lines, rectangles and one cross with double dots on every side.
Apart from engravings, there lies a boulder east of the rock shelter containing cup-marks. This boulder, however, is very close to Bella road just opposite the G-10 Markaz. There are six irregular cup marks carved on the boulder.
Geometric designs on rock shelter at Buland market, G-10, Islamabad
The discovery of rock carvings in the Islamabad is testimony to the fact that the history of Islamabad goes back to antiquity. Cupules have been reported from different parts of the Pakistan but those of Peja and Gumbat in Islamabad are interesting and they appear to have been either used for rituals or perhaps games. The pattern of the horizontal cupules running in double lines shows that they may have been used for certain games by the people. However, those of G-10/1 are carved in a vertical style. There is only one row depicting six cupules of irregular shape. Those of Peja are of hemispherical shape and carved in horizontal style.
The symbolism of the 14 and 16 was important in the cosmology of the ancient tribes. That is why we have cup marks running in double lines either with 14 cup marks or 16 cupules. Another possible explanation could be that these were game boards.
One also finds cup-marks in several villages of Islamabad. However, the prominent cupule sites are those of Narola, D-12, Rumali, Pind Begwal etc.
The writer is an anthropologist. He may be contacted at:zulfi04@hotmail.com
