Archaeological Research and Planning at Rakhigarhi

Vasant Shinde Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute Deemed University

Pune

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

General Distribution of Harappan sites in the Subcontinent

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RakhigarhiKaliba ngan

Ghaggar and Chautang rivers in the Ghaggar Basin have been identified by some scholars as Rg Vedic Saraswati and Drishadwati respectively.

The region between them has Heavy concentration of Harappan sites of different phases.

Ghaggar Basin ,being Fertile and well watered ,served as the main attraction for the Harapan people

Kalibangan

Juni Kuran

RakhigarhiBhirrana

BanawaliTarkhanawala

Dhera

Suktagendor

Lothal

Baror

Kunal

Surkotada

Padri

BagasraKuntasi

Mitathall GirawadFarmana

Kanmer

Important Excavated Harappan Sites in the Ghaggar basin; Notethe location of the site of Rakhigarhi

Gully in the m

iddle separates two villages R

akhi Khaas and R

akhiShahpur. B

oth the villages are located on RG

R- 4, the m

ain m

ound at R

akhigarhi, Hissar D

istrict, Haryana

Two to three hundredyears old Havelis in theVillage. They are alsoCultural Heritage of thevillage.

Antiquity collectors of the village play important role in the preservation ofCultural Heritage of the village

Distribution of seven mounds labelled

by the ASI as RGR 1-7 (Courtesy ASI)

RGR- 1

RGR- 2

RGR- 4

RGR- 3

RGR- 5

RGR- 6

RGR- 7

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 the Harappans.

Future Plans:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. Onsite conservation labs, training in conservation and excavation and Site Museum

3. Ethnographic study to understand the survival of the Harappan legacy and reconstruct Traditional Knowledge System.

4. Community development programme- Ensure participation of the local people in the preservation of the site and developmental programmes.

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 w

ith the villagers (Com

munity A

rchaeology) todiscuss future course of action regards to the m

useum w

ork and theirparticipation in the preservation of site.

Rakhigarhi Excavation 2014-15- Excavators

Total Station Survey for Contour m

apping of the site

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

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

FIELD LAYOUT

Transm itter Receiver

Control Unit

Data

Laptop Computer

Data and Com m ands

BED ROCK

Com puter Output

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

GPR record of profile P-26 on RGR- 3

Scattered Objects in loose soil

New Research: 2011-12 1. Total Station and GPR Survey- 2. Correct mapping of the site completed3. Surface sampling to identify different activity areas.

Total area of the site calculated comesto around 350 ha. The calculation is notyet completed. Two new mounds (RGR-8and RGR-9) have been discovered

RGR- 8 RGR-9

Systematic surface sam

pling was undertaken

to study distribution of different activity areas

Distribution of various craft activities across RGR2

Distribution of Pottery across RGR- 2

Distribution of TC Bangles across RGR-2

Future Plans:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. Onsite conservation labs, training in conservation and excavation and Site Museum

3. Ethnographic study to understand the survival of the Harappan legacy and reconstruct Traditional Knowledge System.

4. Community development programme- Ensure participation of the local people in the preservation of the site and developmental programmes.

Cultural sequence on R

GR

- 4 and RG

R-

6

Cultural sequence – Early H

arappan (c.5500-2600B

CE) and M

ature H

arappan(2600-2000 B

CE)

Early Harappan Structures and features

RGR- 6

Early Harappan Structural C

omplexes on R

GR

- 6

Early Harappan Structural C

omplex on R

GR

- 6

Early Harappan clay storage bin

and Pot, R

GR

- 6

Step-trench excavation on RGR-4for understanding complete culturalsequence and history of the site.

Total habitation deposit 22 mof which lower 1 m belongs to Early Harappan phase and the restto Mature Harappan

Remains of drainage and bathing platform,Mature Harappan phase.

MatureHarappanGranary

Burial site and excavation in

progress

Scientific excavation of burials. All the

burials belong to the M

ature Harappan phase

Careful packingof the burials.

Because of suchprecaution DNA

could be subtracted

Early Harappan and Mature Harappan representative pottery

Typical burial pottery, Mature Harappan phase

Typical artefacts like arrowheads, blade tools, sealsTerracotta animal figurines, etc

Mature HarappanSealing and seal

TTypical Mature Harappan stone and faience beads, spacer, terracottaBalls and figurines

Harappan terracottabangles, copper object and bone tools

There is modern parallelfor terracotta balls foundin the Harappan levels

Harappan legacy continues.The modern settlement looksidentical to the Harappanplan

Proposed shed on the excavated remains at Rakhigarhi

Thanks for your attention and patience