Context
- A human skeleton, along with pottery artifacts and animal bones has been found on the slope of a hillock in a Gujarat village.
About
- Archaeologists excavated a site called Padta Bet, which was 1.5 km from the mass burial ground of Juna Khatiya, an Early Harappan necropolis.
- In 2018, archeologists unearthed a mass burial site with 500 graves on the outskirts of Khatiya village in Gujarat’s Kutch district which raised the question of whose graves are these?
- The latest find bolsters the theory that the graveyard site may have served as a common facility for a cluster of several such smaller settlements.
- The Archaeologists also found semi-precious stone beads made of carnelian and agate, terracotta spindle whorls, copper, lithic tools, cores and debitage, grinding stones, and hammer stones.
Harappan Civilization
- The Harappan civilization is believed to be one of the oldest world civilizations together with Egypt and Mesopotamia.
- It was developed along the river Indus and for that reason, it is also known as the Indus Valley Civilization.
- The Harappan civilization is identified as a Bronze-age civilization because many objects have been found that are made up of copper-based alloys.
Major Features of Civilization
- Urban Planning: Their towns were well-planned and they had brick houses that were situated along the roads.
- Every house was equipped with a staircase, a kitchen, and several rooms.
- Their courtyards had wells and bathrooms and they had proper drainage systems.
- Ornaments: The Harappans wore ornaments made of gold, silver, ivory, shell, clay, semi-precious stones, and others.
- Trade and Commerce: The civilization had extensive trade networks, reaching as far as Mesopotamia, Afghanistan, and the Arabian Peninsula.
- Religion and Iconography: Harappan artifacts depict various symbols and motifs believed to be related to religious beliefs.
- These include figures such as the “Priest King” and images of animals like bulls, suggesting possible reverence for certain animals.
- Craftsmanship and Artistry: The Harappans produced intricate pottery, including the famous red pottery with black painted motifs.
- They also created jewelry, sculptures, and seals made of steatite, terracotta, and other materials.
- Agriculture: They cultivated crops such as wheat, barley, peas, and cotton.
- Social Organization: The society was likely stratified, with evidence suggesting a hierarchical structure. This is indicated by variations in housing sizes and the presence of public buildings.
- Decline and Disappearance: The reasons for the decline of the Harappan Civilization are still debated among historians and archaeologists.
- Possible factors include ecological changes, such as shifts in river courses, as well as invasions and internal conflicts.
Major Harappan
| Harappa | Punjab, Pakistan |
| Mohenjo-Daro | Sindh, Pakistan |
| Dholavira | Kutch district of Gujarat |
| Sites | Present Day |
| Kalibangan | Rajasthan |
| Lothal | Gujarat |
| Rakhigarhi | Haryana |
| Chanhudaro | Sindh, Pakistan |
| Ganweriwala | Punjab, Pakistan |
| Sutkagendor | Baluchistan Province, Pakistan |
| Alamgirpur | Uttar Pradesh |