Pre-Muslim Architectural Tradition in Ancient Pakistan

For thousands of years man had been taking refuge in the caves or under the trees to safe himself from the devastating effects of natural forces. For a long time the idea of making shelters like huts or rooms never struck his mind. Although building material like clay, stone boulder, or river pebbles, were lying all round him but, he even, accidentally, did not attempt to erect any kind of shelter for a long time. Why had he been unable to build an artificial refuge is now differently interpreted and explained. However, it seems that most dominant factor behind this was the lack of economic resources available at one place. When he was offered and provided by environment and nature with favoured circumstances, he, without losing opportunities began to exploit the land resources surrounding him. It is generally agreed that as soon as he discovered the art of agriculture and learned to domesticate the animals he began to build shelters in the open air beside the cultivable land by using, whatsoever available, such as wood, bushes, twigs, stone, river pebbles and clay. This was the earliest material used by man in the construction of huts and houses.