Discovery of 5,200 years old Harappan settlement in Kutch (Gujarat)

Discovery of 5,200 years old Harappan settlement in Kutch (Gujarat)

GS-1: Arts and Culture (Ancient History)

(IAS/UPPCS)

 

Relevant for Prelims:

Early Harappan Necropolis, Juna Khatiya, Kutch District (Gujarat).

 

Relevant for Mains:

Key points related to the discovery, importance, about Harappan civilization, about Juna Khatiya: its features,Conclusion.

05/04/2024

Source: Indian Express

Why in news:

Recently, archaeologists from the University of Kerala have discovered a 5,200-year-old Harappan settlement at Padta Bet, about 1.5 km away, near Juna Khatiya, an early Harappan cemetery in the Kutch district of Gujarat.

Key points related to discovery:

Location:

  • Early Harappan Necropolis, Juna Khatiya, Kutch District (Gujarat). This site is situated on the mountain top of Padta Bet.

Area:

  • The archaeological deposits at this site have been found in different groups in two different localities located in an area of approximately 200mx200m.
  • A small stream flowing near the hill was an active source of water at this site during the prosperous period.
  • In 2018, archaeologists unearthed a mass burial site containing 500 graves on the outskirts of Khatiya village in Gujarat's Kutch district, raising questions about whose graves they belonged to.

Features of the discovered remains:

  • These remains date from the Early Harappan period around 3200 BC to the Late Harappan period around 1700 BC.
  • These remains are made of locally available sandstone and rocks.
  • The remains recovered here are terracotta ceramic pots, artefacts and animal bones.
  • These pottery vessels range from large storage jars to small bowls and pots.
  • Most of the remains discovered are circular and rectangular in shape.

Discovered remains:

  • Archaeologists have found remains of semi-precious stone beads made of carnelian and agate, terracotta spindle whorls, copper, lithic tools, cores and debitage, grinding stones and stone hammers.

Significance:

  • Discovered are pottery artefacts and animal bones representing cattle, sheep or goat and shell fragments.
  • This settlement indicates possible animal husbandry as well as shellfish exploitation. It expresses the occupation of the Harappan people.
  • Ceramic artifacts may be from one of the unknown pottery traditions of Harappa, ranging from large storage jars to small bowls and dishes.
  • The latest discovery lends credence to the theory that the cemetery site may have served as a common facility for a group of several such small settlements.

About Harappan Civilization:

  • It is one of the oldest in the world and developed along the Indus River from about 5,000 BC to 1,000 BC.
  • Classification: While the 2,500-year-long period from 5,000 BCE to 2,600 BCE is known as the 'pre-urban' Harappan phase, the period between 2,600 BCE and 1,900 BCE is called the 'urban' Harappan phase . From there, the civilization declined and 1,900 BCE to 1,000 BCE is considered the 'post-urban' Harappan period.

Some important Harappan sites in Kutch, Gujarat:

  • Dholavira: It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest metropolises of the Harappan Civilization, also in Kutch.
  • It is 150 kilometers away from Khatiya which is one of the westernmost Harappan sites in India.
  • Given the distance, researchers believe it is unlikely that people from Dholavira's urban settlements were buried at the Khatiya site.
  • Desalpar and Khirsara, Kotada Bhadli and Nadapa: These are other famous Harappan sites in Western Kutch.
  • But each of them is a site of urban and post-urban period of Harappan civilization and is more than 50 km away from Khatiya.
  • Being a pre-urban Harappan cemetery, there is a possibility that either there was a large settlement at Khatiya or there were smaller settlements around Khatiya and the cemetery was a common cemetery for them.

Major Harappan sites:

  • Harappa Punjab, Pakistan: This site was discovered by Dayaram Sahni in the year 1921-23 on the banks of river Ravi.
  • Mohenjo-Daro Sindh, Pakistan: This site was discovered by Rakhal Das Banerjee in the year 1922 on the banks of the Indus River.
  • Dholavira, Kutch district of Gujarat: This site was discovered in the year 1967 by JP Joshi and excavated by RS Bisht (1985).
  • Plantation, Punjab: This site on the banks of river Sutlej was discovered by Yajnadutt Sharma in the year 1953-54.
  • Kalibangan, Rajasthan: This site on the banks of river Ghaggar was discovered by BB Lal and BK Thapar in the year 1961.
  • Lothal, Gujarat: This site on the banks of Bhogava river was discovered by Ranganath Rao in the year 1954.
  • Rakhigarhi, Haryana: Located on the banks of Ghaggar River, this site was discovered by Suraj Bhan in the year 1969.
  • Chanhudaro Sindh, Pakistan: This site on the banks of the Indus River was discovered by Gopal Majumdar in the year 1931.
  • Ganwariwala Punjab, Pakistan: This site has just been identified as the site of the Indus Valley Civilization and has not been excavated.
  • Sutkagendor Balochistan Province, Pakistan: This site on the banks of Dashk River was discovered by Orange Style in the year 1927 and by George Dales in the year 1962.
  • Alamgirpur, Uttar Pradesh: Located on the Hindon river, a tributary of Yamuna in Meerut district, this ancient site was discovered by 'Yagyadutt Sharma' in 1958.

About Juna Khatiya:

  • It is located in Kutch district of Gujarat.
  • It is one of the largest Harappan burial sites with possibly 500 graves.
  • The tombs discovered at the site date back to 3,200 BCE to 2,600 BCE, which is earlier than Dholavira and many other Harappan sites in Gujarat.

Important features:

  • The site is important because other peoples like Dholavira have a cemetery in and around the city, but no major settlement has been found near Juna Khatiya.
  • The site shows the transition from earthen mound burials to stone tombs.
  • The characteristics and styles of pottery recovered from the site are similar to those excavated from Early Harappan sites in Sindh and Balochistan.

 

 

 

 

Conclusion:

This is an important discovery which not only highlights the ancient historical civilization and culture of India, but also inspires archaeologists for new discoveries.

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Mains Question:

Discuss the significance of the 5,200 year old Harappan  settlement in Kutch (Gujarat) recently discovered.