The Harappan trading site of Shortughai located in northeast Afghanistan served as an outpost for procuring lapis lazuli that was highly prized for its deep blue color. Lapis mining sites were located nearby in the Badakhshan region. From here, lapis was likely traded along routes further south to major cities like Mohenjo-daro where lapis beads, pendants, and vases have been discovered. High value commodities like lapis helped motivate long distance trade networks.
This Question is Also Available in:
हिन्दी