Current Affairs

Issue

Latest round of excavations in Harappan site of Rakhigarhi has revealed new information such as houses, lanes and a drainage system, and a jewellery-making unit.

 

Background

Harappan cities are one of the oldest human settlements in the subcontinent. They offer clues on Indian civilization.

 

Skeletal remains

• Skeletal remains of two women were excavated from mound No. 7 and believed to be nearly 5,000 years old.

• The DNA remains were sent for analysis, which might provide clues about the ancestry and food habits of people who lived in the region thousands of years ago.

• Pots and other artefacts were found buried next to the remains. This indicates an important funeral custom.

 

Habitation

• An aristocratic settlement has been discovered after excavations on mound 3. Such settlements are fairly common across Harappan cities.

• The three tiers of habitation in Harappan cities include ‘common settlements’ with mud brick walls, ‘elite settlement’ with burnt brick walls, and possible ‘middle-rung settlements’.

 

Discovered artefacts

• Steatite seals, terracotta bangles, terracotta unbaked sealing with relief of elephants, and the Harappan script are some of the artefacts discovered.

• The objects are said to have been from the mature-Harappan period. Other cities existing during this period include Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro, Dholavira and Ganweriwala.

 

Jewellery unit

• Steatite beads, beads of semi-precious stones, shells, and objects made of agate and carnelian have been recovered at the site.

• This is assumed to be a jewellery-making unit. It shows that the city was a major hub of jewellery trade.

• An important piece of jewellery was lapis lazuli. This precious stone is found in Afghanistan and not in India.

• Some ornament shells were also recovered. The clues offered during excavation indicate that extensive trade was in prevalence.