Sanghao Cave

Sanghao Cave is a Paleolithic site near Mardan in northern Pakistan, excavated by Ahmad Hasan Dani. It was the first stratified Upper Paleolithic site discovered in Pakistan, providing crucial evidence for the transition from Middle to Upper Paleolithic cultures in South Asia. Excavations revealed twelve cultural horizons, with lower layers containing Mousterian-like scrapers and upper strata featuring blade-based industries dating to roughly 40,000 years ago. Radiocarbon dating of charcoal from hearths yielded ages ranging from 10,000 to 12,000 BP, indicating Late Paleolithic occupations during the Pleistocene-Holocene climatic transition. The cave sits at an altitude of 600 metres and is locally known as Parkho-darra.