| Haryana Archaeology |
| New Harappan sites are being discovered all over North India and enhancing our understanding of their history. The pre-Harappan age (2800 BC - 2300 BC) and Harappan era (2300 BC - 1800 BC) combined are called the Indus valley civilization, while the preceding Vedic age (4000 BC - 2800 BC) can be called the Saraswati valley civilization. The era of pre- Harappan period is characterized by the typical pottery, settlement pattern and architecture. Rakhigarhi Excavations in Rakhigarhi, Haryana have revealed one of the largest Harappan sites ever discovered and has pushed back the history of Harappans by about 500 years. This site could again bring to front, questions about the Vedic Civilization and its relationship to the Indus Valley civilization. Rakhigarhi is a large site on the banks of, what is now believed to be, the dried bed of Saraswati river. Senior archaeologists consider this to be no ordinary Harappan site. They say the findings have already started showing new civilization contours. Banawali Banawali is a Pre Harappan and Harappan site. At Banawali, evidence of ploughed fields has been found. Large quantity of barley and evidence of growing of sesame and mustard have also been found. The use of wooden plough for ploughing the fields were prevalent. The mound in Banawali, 15 kms from Fatehbad, reveals a fortified town (BC 2500 – 1700). Banawali seems to have been abandoned by 1900 BC with the drying up of Saraswati. Kunal Kunal seems to be a Pre Harappan site. Two silver crowns presumably worn by the King and queen along with gold and silver jewellery has been found here in an earthen jar. This is the first time that a regal crown has been found in the subcontinent. This site brings to light that the Harappans went through three stages of development; from pit houses to regular rectangular and square dwellings above the surface. Agroha The Agroha mound goes back to the 3rd century BC and is where Harappan coins were discovered apart from stone sculptures, terracotta seals, iron and copper implements, shells and a host of other things. Mittathal At this site, three phases of Harappan culture have been found. During the archaeological exploration of the Ghaggar valley in Sirsa District in 1967-1968, the archaeological survet of India found nearly 54 sites, yielding painted grey, black and red, wares and those belonging to Rang Mahal Culture. No Harappan settlement, however, could be located. |
