of January are 10 and −2 degrees Celsius, respectively. Rainfall is low except in the Razmak area where the rainfall is slightly higher. Archeological finds In 1966, Ahmad Hasan Dani located Buddhist sites from the area:Coins of the Parthian and Kusana rulers have been found previously in the Shertala plain. Some archeological finds were reported by Sir Aurel Stein. In fact we also located during our visit a Buddhist Stupa site not far from Spinwam. But nothing definite is known about the early history of this region. Demographics At the time of the 2017 census the district had a population of 540,546, of which 277,749 were males and 262,764 females. Rural population was 536,182 (99.19%) while the urban population was 4,364 (0.81%). The literacy rate was 36.61% – the male literacy rate was 59.99% while the female literacy rate was 12.49%. Pashto was the predominant language, spoken by 97.57% of the population, while 1.08% spoke Punjabi. 842 people in the district were from religious minorities, predominantly Christian. Ethnic groups and tribes The chief tribes in North Waziristan are the Utmanzai, Wazirs and Dawars. There are small tribes, like the Gurbaz, Kharsins, Saidgis and Malakshis Mahsuds, and Bangashs. These tribes, except the Saidgis, are Pakhtuns. According to the tribal annals, they are descendants of Karlan, who are descended from Qais Abdur Rashid. Some historians believe that they are ethnically Semites. The traditions of the tribesmen, however, indicate that they are descendants of Karlan and are, therefore, generally accepted as being a tribe of Karlanri Pakhtuns. The Saidgis are the descendants of a Syed who accompanied the founder of the Wazir tribe. The Wazirs dominate the hilly tracts: Khaisora, Sherathala Plain, Spinwam Mirali, Shewa, Kaitu Valley, Razmak, lower stretches of the Kurram River, upper parts of Tochi Valley beyond Kharakamar and alongside the Tochi Valley such as Anghar kalay, Spalga, Mir Khon Khel. They are divided into three main sections: Ibrahim Khel, Wali Khel, and Mohmit Khel. These sections are further divided into several sub-sections. The Dawars are divided into two main sections: Tor Gund and Spin Gund. The inhabitants of village Tappi, village Miramshah, and Issuri Haidar Khel are Tor Gund and the remaining are Spin Gund. In the time of Ahmad Shah Durrani, the total number of Dawars was 12,000 (3,000 Tor Gund 9,000 Spin Gund), and Waziris were 60,000. The traditional jirga of Spin Gund are still called "lazariza"