Saraswati River Basin: The Cradle of Indian Civilization

Vasant Shinde Deccan College

Post-Graduate and Research Institute Deemed University

Pune

Thanks to the organizers

Joint research betweenDeccan College, Deemed University and the Dept. ofArchaeology and Museums,Haryana Government.

Distrib

utio

n o

f Harap

pan

sites in

the In

dian

Sub

con

tinen

t: no

teth

e locatio

n o

f Harap

pan

m

etrop

olitan

cities

Sites with Early and Mature Harappa

GHAGGAR

Images of major Palaeo-channels of the Hakra-Saraswati and Luni systems (J.R. Sharma et al. 2006) courtesy ISRO, Jodhpur

Map showing MatureHarappan Sites in theIndus and the SaraswatiBasins

Haryanabeing Fertile and well watered ,served as the main attraction for the Harapan people

RakhigarhiKalibangan

Juni Kuran

Bhirrana

BanawaliTarkhanawala

Dhera

Suktagendor

Lothal

Baror

Kunal

Surkotada

Padri

BagasraKuntasi

Mitathall GirawadFarmana

Kanmer

Important Excavated Harappan Sites in HaryanaNote the location of the site of Rakhigarhi

Cultural Sequence in the Ghaggar Basin

Period I- Regional Hakra Culture Tradition (Early Harappan) : AMS dates:

PLD-9491No. 07-009

Farmana site, Trench- 03Layer- 7 SD: 1.75m, ED: 1.77m

2500BC- 2290 BC

PLD- 9492No. 07-010

Farmana site, Trench- 03Layer- 8 SD: 1.94m, ED: 2.00m

2470BC- 2270 BC

PLD- 9493No. 07-011

Farmana site, Trench- 03Layer- 9 SD: 2.19m, ED: 2.29m

2500BC- 2300BC

PLD- 9494No. 07-012

Girawad site, Trench- 44Pit- 35 SD: 61cm, ED: 76cm

2780BC- 2560BC

PLD- 9495No. 07-013

Girawad sitePit- 23

4240BC- 4030BC

PLD- 9496No. 07-014

Mitathal site, Trench- A1Depth- 166 cm

6270BC- 6070BC

Period II: Mature Harappan- sub-phases IIA, IIB and IIC (Based on Comparative Pottery Analysis).

Kunal

Cultural Sequence at Bhirrana (Courtesy ASI)

General View of Dwelling Pit Complex (Courtesy ASI)

Dwelling Pit Complex and Burnt Wattle and Daub and other Remains

Structural remains and fire-place of the Transitional Phase from Early to Mature

Structural Phase- I- Period IIA

Structural Phase-II, Period IIB

FARMANA: A PLAN OF STRUCTURES

Different Structure Complexes arrangedin a grid pattern, Structural Phase II, Period -IIB

St. Complex 4 St. Complex 3 St. Complex 2

Street

Lane

St. Complex 4- Nine rooms (4A to 4I) of whichhave been excavated so far

Kitchen of the

Complex 4

Another Kitchen cum storage of the complex 3

Tan/Chocolate Slipped Ware

Farmana: Plan of Burials

Oriented either in N-S, NW-SE or NE-SW directions, they are in three groups: 1. Primary, 2. Secondary and 3. Symbolic

Most of the Burial pits consist of numerous pots and jewellery too.Common features :Rectangular Burial pit and Head always towards the north

and burial pottery to the north of the head

Symbolic

Primary Burials at Farmana

Secondary Burial at Farmana

Symbolic Burialat Farmana

Distribution of seven mounds labelled by the ASI as RGR 1-

7 (Courtesy ASI)

Why Rakhigarhi?

1. Largest Harappan site in the country, extremely potential as is clear from the research carried out by the earlier scholar and the present team

2. The major part is under modern habitation and slowly and surely the site is being encroached upon. The destruction and encroachment need to be stopped immediately to save the greatest Harappan site in the country.

3. Close and well connected to Delhi, convenient for a day’s trip. Many well studied sites

in the vicinity as Farmana, Bhirrana, etc.

4. Ideal candidate to study cultural process from Early to Mature phases of the Harappan culture.

5. Study at the site will enable understanding of the “Regional Variations” of Harappan

culture in the Ghaggar basin and role played by the regional cultures in the development of the regional diversity.

6. Role played by the site in the Social-economic organizations of theHarappans.

Research Plans at the site:1. Systematic and scientific survey of the site (completed)

2.Uncover earlier excavated structures and preserve and protect them for the benefit of the public. Raise dome structures on them so that they are safe and viewed all year around (future plan).

3. Undertake excavations at the Habitation as well as Burial portion of the site to establish proper cultural sequence, understand settlement pattern, health, diet and composition of Harappan population (ongoing).

4. Onsite conservation labs, training in conservation and excavation and Site Museum (proposed)

5. Ethnographic study to understand the survival of the Harappan legacy and reconstruct Traditional Knowledge System (in progess).

6. Community development programme- Ensure participation of the local people in the preservation of the site and developmental programmes (in progress).

Develop the site from Tourism point of view:1. Develop site Museum not only for displaying objects from excavation but

also showcase Culture’s contribution to the development of basic sciences and technologies.

2. Preserve and protect part of the city that will be excavated from hereon

3. Both these will generate local employment and economic development of the region- a Role model for the country

Proposed Community Development Works:1. Road Connectivity2. Municipal Services3. Roads, lanes to be repaired4. Tree plantation5. Provide clean drinking water6. Establish medical and education facilities 7. Guidance to the people for establishing cottage

industries8. Provide street lamps, etc.

Periodic meeting with the villagers (Community Archaeology) todiscuss future course of action regards to the museum work and theirparticipation in the preservation of site.

Rakhigarhi Excavation 2014-15- Excavators

Total Station Survey for Contour mapping of the site

New Research: 2011-12

1. Total Station and GPR Survey-

2. Correct mappingof the site completed

3. Surface sampling to identify different activity areas.

Electrical Resistivity Imaging survey lay out on mound RGR-3

GEOPHYSICS DIVISION, CENTRAL WATER AND POWER RESEARCH STATION, PUNE-24

FIELD LAYOUT

Transmitter Receiver

Control Unit

Data

Laptop Computer

Data and Commands

BED ROCK

Computer Output

Induced PulseReflected Pulse

Transmitted Pulse

Refle

cted P

ulse

Field Lay Out of Ground Penetrating Radar Survey for understandingPotentiality and total extent of the site

GEOPHYSICAL INVESTIGATIONS AT HARAPPAN SITE OF RAKHIGARHI, HARYANA Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)

Scattered Objects in loose soil

GPR record of profile P-26 on RGR- 3

Total area of the site calculated comesto around 550 ha. The calculation is notyet completed. Two new mounds (RGR-8and RGR-9) have been discovered

RGR- 8 RGR-9

Systematic surface sampling was undertaken to study distribution of different activity areas

Distribution of various craft activities across RGR2

Distribution of TC Bangles across RGR-2

Cultural sequence on R

GR

-4 and RG

R-6

Early Harappan Structural C

omplexes on R

GR-6

MatureHarappanGranary

Burial site and excavation in progress

Head cap

Goggle

Mask

Disposable gown

Disposable gloves

Bones in the plastic bags

One brush for eachSoil samples

Scientific excavation of burials. All the burials

belong to the Mature H

arappan phase

Anthropological Examination

Paleoparasitology

Ancient DNA Analysis Stable Isotope Analysis

Craniofacial Reconstruction

Samples Transported to the Deccan College Lab

CT Scanning

Sampling

Careful packingof the burials.

Because of suchprecaution DNA

could be subtracted

Proposed shed on the excavated remains at Rakhigarhi

Any question?

Thanks for your attention and patience

Acknowledgements

Archaeological Survey of IndiaHaryana State Department of Archaeology and Museums