Harappan Site Research Articles

Site Catchment Analysis of the Harappan Site Mitathal

Site Catchment Analysis of the Harappan Site Mitathal

Re-assessment of excavated site, Rakhigari in Haryana

Abstract: Haryana is also one of the wealthier states of India and had been second highest per capital in come in the country at 138,859 in the year 2011-2012 and in the year 2012-2013 including the largest number of rural crorepatis mainly Ahirs and jats in India. Haryana is one of the most economically developed regions in the south Asia and its agriculture and manufacturing industry had experienced sustained growth since in 1970. Haryana is India’s largest manufacturer of passenger cars, twowheelers and tractors. Since 2000 the state has emerged as the largest recipient of investment per capita in India. The city of Gurgaon has rapidly emerged as a major hub for information technology and auto-mobile manufacture of two wheelers Faridabad, Panchkula, Dharuhara, Bawal, Sonipat, Panipat, Yamuna, Nagar and Rewari are also industrial hubs. With the Panipat refinery being the second largest refinery in south Asia, there are also long established steel, plywood, paper and textile industries in the state. Haryana was the outermost location of the ancient Indus valley civilization with the centers such as Banawali and Rakhigari, is now a village of Hisar district. The site is dated to be over 5000 years old. Evidence pried roads drainage system, large rain water collection storage system, terracotta brick. Statue production and skilled metal work (in both precious metals) has been covered. Excavation conduct of Rakhigari includes that the settlement witnessed all the phases of Harapan (3200-2700 BC) as well as mature Harappan (2700-1800 BC). The position of Rakhigari is a unique Harappan site which promises to reveal new civilizations by a thousand years or more said a latest publication of department of Archaeology and museums, authored by vardan. Keywords: Banawali Rakhigari Evidence Settlement Harppan Archaeology museuns

Royal "Chariot" Burials of Sanauli near Delhi and Archaeological Correlates of Prehistoric Indo-Iranian Languages

The article describes the royal cart burials excavated at the Late Harappan site of Sanauli near Delhi in the spring of 2018 on the basis of the available reports and photographs. The author then comments on these finds, dated to about 1900 bce, with the Sanauli cart burials being the first of their kind in Bronze Age India. In his opinion, several indications suggest that the Sanauli “chariots” are actually carts yoked to bulls, as in the copper sculpture of a bull-cart from the Late Harappan site of Daimabad in Maharashtra. The antennae-hilted swords associated with the burials suggest that these bull-carts are likely to have come from the BMAC or the Bactria and Margiana Archaeological Complex (c.2300–1500 bce) of southern Central Asia, from where thereis iconographic evidence of bull-carts. The ultimate source of the Sanauli/BMAC bull-carts may be the early phase of the Sintashta culture in the Trans-Urals, where the chariot (defined as a horse-drawn light vehicle with two spoked wheels) was most probably invented around the late twenty-first century bce. The invention presupposes an earlier experimental phase, which started with solid-wheeled carts that could only be pulled by bulls. An intermediate phase in the development is the “proto-chariot” with cross-bar wheels, attested in a BMAC-related cylinder seal from Tepe Hissar III B in northern Iran (c.2000–1900 bce). The wooden coffins of the Sanauli royal burials provide another pointer to a possible Sintashta origin. The Sanauli finds are considered in the context of the author’s archaeological model for the prehistory of the Indo-Iranian languages, which is adjusted to meet recent justified criticism.

The Rise and Fall of a Parallel-Walled Structure: Assessing the Site Sequence at Pachamta

ABSTRACTIn this article, we investigate the chronology of a large parallel-walled mudbrick structure at the site of Pachamta in Rajasthan, India. Pachamta is larger than the contemporaneous Harappan site of Kalibangan and part of a society collectively known as the Ahar Culture. Recent excavations at Pachamta provided an opportunity to elaborate on the available dates for this society and to investigate the chronology of an enigmatic parallel-walled structure. The chronology and function of such prominent structures remains murky, although scholars have suggested that these buildings served as public storage because they resemble the granary at Harappa. Through excavation, our team collected data for assessing the Pachamta parallel-walled structure including construction methods, process of abandonment, and associated dates. The thirteen 14C assays from the site and an associated phase and sequence model performed in OxCal 4.3 demonstrate that the building was constructed, used, and abandoned in a relatively brief period. If parallel-walled structures are storage buildings, then expansion of the building may indicate prosperity or surplus, while abandonment may indicate an end to abundance or a shift in resource management. Carefully dating the structure allows us to investigate the timing of social processes including political and economic shifts within the settlement.

Paleo-earthquake signatures from the South Wagad Fault (SWF), Wagad Island, Kachchh, Gujarat, western India: A potential seismic hazard

In last 500 years, Kachchh experienced several large magnitude earthquakes (6.0 ≥ M ≤ 7.8), however, not all accompanied surface rupture. The 1819 Allah Bund earthquake (Mw7.8) accompanied surface rupture, whereas, the 2001 Bhuj event (Mw7.6) occurred at a depth of 23 km on E-W striking south dipping thrust fault remained blind. Discontinuities between the denser-brittle basement (?) and overlying ductile-softer Mesozoic-Tertiary-Quaternary succession resulted in a different geometry of faulting. Normal faults associated with rift were reactivated as reverse faults during inversion tectonics, propagated in sedimentary succession and arrested. Thrust-ramps developed along the discontinuities accompanied surface ruptures. Folded structures along the South Wagad Fault (SWF) – an active thrust, exhibits lateral-propagation of fold segments and linkage, suggestive of fault-related-fold growth. Paleoseismic investigations revealed evidence of at least three paleo-earthquakes. Event I occurred before BCE 5080; Event II between BCE 4820 and 2320, and was probably responsible for a massive damage at Dholavira – Harappan site. Event III was between BCE 1230 and 04, most likely caused severe damage to Dholavira. Archaeo-seismological Quality Factor (AQF) of 0.5 suggests that the Dholavira is vulnerable to earthquakes from nearby active faults. With 1500–2000 yr of recurrence interval, occurrence of a large magnitude earthquake on SWF cannot be ruled out.

Shikarpur lithic assemblage: New questions regarding Rohri chert blade production

Recent excavations at Shikarpur, a fortified Harappan site situated near the Gulf of Kuchchh in Gujarat, Western India, brought to light a large collection of Rohri chert blades. Chert found in the Rohri hill near Sukkur in Sindh, central Pakistan is distinctive and easily identifiable. The wide distribution of standardized Rohri chert blades is often regarded as a testimony to the Harappan efficiency in long distance trade and craft production. The possibility of localized production of Rohri chert blades in Gujarat is often negated due to the constraints of raw-material availability. The absence of Rohri chert working debitage from most of the sites in Gujarat, has lent support to this position. The Shikarpur Rohri blade assemblage however incorporates more than 650 blades, a large fluted blade-core and a few Rohri chert debitage. These have led the excavators to suggest that some of the blades found at Shikarpur were locally produced from raw materials brought to the site from the Rohri hills. Typo-technological features of the Rohri chert assemblage from Shikarpur have been analysed in this background. These along with metrical features of the assemblage are compared with Rohri chert assemblages from other major Harappan sites in the region to check the validity of the proposed ‘limited local production’.

Subsistence System, Paleoecology, and 14C Chronology at Kanmer, a Harappan Site in Gujarat, India

This article presents the results of 4 excavation seasons in which botanical and animal remains were collected at the Harappan site of Kanmer in the Kachchh District of Gujarat, India. The findings revealed a subsistence economy consisting of food production with domesticated plants and animals, hunting, fishing, and wild plant gathering. Cultural relics and radiocarbon dating support our identification of different cultural periods at the site. This study provides new insights into the subsistence strategies during different phases of occupation and offers the potential for new subsistence models to be applied at nearby sites, particularly in this peripheral zone of the Indus civilization.

Subsistence System, Paleoecology, and 14C Chronology at Kanmer, a Harappan Site in Gujarat, India

This article presents the results of 4 excavation seasons in which botanical and animal remains were collected at the Harappan site of Kanmer in the Kachchh District of Gujarat, India. The findings revealed a subsistence economy consisting of food production with domesticated plants and animals, hunting, fishing, and wild plant gathering. Cultural relics and radiocarbon dating support our identification of different cultural periods at the site. This study provides new insights into the subsistence strategies during different phases of occupation and offers the potential for new subsistence models to be applied at nearby sites, particularly in this peripheral zone of the Indus civilization.

‘Buried’ Palaeo-Ghaggar channel belt inferred through resistivity soundings around Kalibangan Harappan site, north western Rajasthan, India

‘Buried’ Palaeo-Ghaggar channel belt inferred through resistivity soundings around Kalibangan Harappan site, north western Rajasthan, India

Holocene environmental changes and cultural patterns in coastal western India: A geoarchaeological perspective

Geomorphological studies carried out around coastal sites at Hazira, Kanmer, Padri and Sanjan in Gujarat, and Chaul, and Kelshi in Maharashtra indicate human activity throughout the Holocene. The offshore site at Hazira, of early Holocene age, is the only submerged prehistoric site at a depth of 20–40 m below the present sea level in the entire 7000 km long coastline of India. Protohistoric Harappan sites at Kanmer and Padri are of mid-Holocene age. The sites of Sanjan, Chaul and Kelshi represent an Early Historic cultural phase belonging to the Late Holocene age. The site of Hazira was located on the banks of a buried channel adjusted to the low sea level phase of the Early Holocene. Cultural development of the Harappan site at Kanmer in the present semi-arid rocky landscape of Kachchh was closely related to the existence of 2–5 m deep water in the presently dried up part of Rann of Kachchh throughout the mid-Holocene. On the other hand the economy of the Harappan site of Padri depended on salt manufacturing in a stable estuarine environment close to the present sea level of the Gulf of Cambay. Sanjan, Chaul and Kelshi appear to have depended on a trading economy. These sites are situated in estuarine environments involving lateral transgressive–regressive phases more or less within the present intertidal zone of Arabian Sea in a humid environment.

Negligible Details? On a Study of Terracotta Miniature Carts from a Harappan site in Gujarat

This paper deals with results obtained from an analysed assemblage of Harappan toy- or model carts. It aims to put forward the particular value of studying a limited number of objects while concentrating on details. It further prefers to approach the items not primarily as representations of full-sized carts, but as that what they are; that is, miniature carts.

Anaemia in the Ancient Indus Valley

The Harappan, or Indus Valley, civilization is considered by many to be among the earliest and most developed of ancient civilizations, with features such as a highly specialized and functionally integrated economy, centralized bureaucratic institutions and a large population base. Two of 29 crania recovered during the most recent cemetery excavations at Harappa display cranial lesions of porotic hyperostosis, suggestive of chronic anaemia. No lesions consistent with the effects of genetic anaemias were exhibited by any of the 92 individuals for which postcranial remains were preserved, however, suggesting that an acquired iron deficiency is the most likely diagnosis. This low prevalence of anaemia may be linked to a good nutritional base in a diverse ecological setting, and few gastrointestinal and other infections due to high standards of personal and community hygiene. A genetic anaemia may be responsible for an apparent higher frequency of porotic hyperostosis at Mohenjo-Daro, a Harappan site that is located in a different environmental zone, but the small samples available for these and other South Asian sites render these conclusions tentative. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Int. J. Osteoarchaeol., 7: 115–123 (1997) No. of Figures: 2. No. of Tables: 1. No. of

Excavations at the Harappan Site of Allahdino. The Graffiti: A Model in the Decipherment of the Harappan Script

Excavations at the Harappan Site of Allahdino. The Graffiti: A Model in the Decipherment of the Harappan Script

Sodium sulphate weathering and the disintegration of Mohenjo‐Daro, Pakistan

AbstractIn Pakistan various brick building structures are currently disintegrating in the Indus Valley. These include the Harappan site of Mohenjo‐Daro. The environment of this site is described, the nature and speed of the disintegration problem is outlined, and the cause of disintegration is discussed Weathering occurs in association with the development of salt efflorescences and some bricks disintegrate only a few years after being laid down. Chemical and X‐ray diffraction analyses show that the predominant salt is the sodium sulphate mineral thenardite. The reasons for its effectiveness are discussed. They include its high solubility, the rapid change of solubility with temperature, and its hydration characteristics.

Setaria in Ancient plant economy of India

The paper reports for the first time from India the discovery of spikelets of Setaria spp. It appears that the carbonized grains are represented by Setaria italica, S. viridis and S. verticillata or by unknown species. The material comes from the Harappan site, Surkotada in district Kutch, Gujarat and is radiocarbon dated to 1600 B.C. The identification of these carbonized spikelets is based upon comparative morphological study of ten extant species of Setaria.

Supposed remains of rice (Oryza sp.) in the terracotta cakes and pai at Kalibangan, Rajasthan

The remains of husk and chaff in the terracotta cakes from the Harappan site, Kalibangan, earlier reported by Sarma (1972) as those of rice (Oryza sp.), have on cuticular examination been found to belong to wheat (Triticum sp.).