Ornaments found, 2 more Harappan mounds at Rakhigarhi now ASI-protected sites

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has declared 40.26 acres of area at mounds six and seven of one of the largest Harappan civilisation sites at Rakhigarhi village in Hisar district protected under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and...

Deepender Deswal

Tribune News Service

Hisar, Updated At : 06:21 AM Dec 15, 2024 IST

Two of four human skeletons dating back to the 5,000-year-old Harappan era which have been recovered are pictured at a burial mound at Rakhigarhi village in Hisar on March 11, 2015 Four complete human skeletons - two men, one woman and a child - thought to date back some 5,000 years have been discovered in an ancient village in northern India, archaeologists said on April 15, 2015. Archaeological teams from India and South Korea have been digging since 2012 in an area of Haryana state where an ancient Indus Valley civilisation was thought to have been located. (file photo)

Valuable insight into ancient times
Excavations carried out at mound No. 7 from 2015 onwards led to the discovery of a Harappan-era graveyard
As many as 60 human skeletons have been found so far; their analysis shows inhabitants had distinct origin
Excavations at mound No. 6 yielded Harappan-era pottery and ornaments made of precious stones
Now, six of the seven mounds have been declared protected; the ASI will soon acquire land from the villagers

There are a total of seven mounds spread over 400 hectares which comprise the entire habitation and fields of Rakhigarhi village. This ancient site has traces of life about 5,000 years ago.

Excavations carried out at mound No. 7 from 2015 onwards led to the discovery of a Harappan-era graveyard where about 60 human skeletons have been found. Similarly, excavations at mound No. 6 yielded Harappan-era pottery and ornaments made of precious stones.

Now, 33.53 acres of mound No. 6 and 6.73 acres of mound No. 7 have been declared protected. The land is owned by local residents who use it for growing crops. However, the farmers will not be able to carry out agricultural activities now. Sources said the ASI, in coordination with the state government, would soon initiate the land acquisition process.

Dr Sanjay Manjul, Joint Director General, Archaeology, ASI, told The Tribune that all seven mounds of Rakhigarhi, barring mound No. 5 (which is thickly populated), had now been declared protected. The Centre issued a notification in this regard on December 10.

Earlier, the Union Ministry of Culture issued a public notice of its intention to declare the archaeological site and remains as property of national importance and affixed a copy of the notification at a conspicuous place near the site. After no objection was filed, the Centre declared the area measuring 40.26 acres protected under Section 4 of the Act.

The ASI first started excavation at this site during 1997-98. The operation was led by former ASI DG Amarender Nath. However, a significant discovery was made by a team of archaeologists from Deccan College, Pune, headed by Prof Vasant Shide in 2015, when four human skeletons belonging to the Harappan era were recovered from a cemetery at the mound No. 7. As many as 15 more skeletons were found in 2016 and more later. A total of 60 skeletons have been excavated till now. Even DNA samples were collected. Their analysis revealed that the inhabitants of the Harappan civilisation had a distinct origin.

The excavation at Rakhigarhi mounds has provided further insight into the Indus Valley Civilisation. These include town planning, rituals and burials, and others.

Besides a graveyard and a granary, several pottery items, steatite beads, shells and objects made of agate and carnelian have been recovered. Various hunting tools were also excavated. The site also yielded various antiquities, such as blades, shell bracelets and stone beads.