Evidence of Harappan Settlement in Kachchh

Context

A human skeleton, pottery artifacts and animal bones belonging to Harappan Settlement has been found on the slope of a hillock in Kachchh, Gujarat.

About 

• Archaeologists excavated a site called Padta Bet, it was 1.5 km from the mass burial ground of Juna Khatiya, an Early Harappan necropolis.
• In 2018, archeologists had unearthed a mass burial site with 500 graves on the outskirts of Khatiya village in Gujarat’s Kutch district which raised the questions of whose graves are those.
• The recent find bolsters the theory that the graveyard site may have served as a common facility for a cluster of several such smaller settlements.
• The Archaeologists additionally determined semi valuable stone beads fabricated from carnelian and agate, terracotta spindle whorls, copper, lithic equipment, cores and debitage, grinding stones and hammer stones.

Harappan Civilization

• The Harappan civilization is considered to be one of the oldest world civilizations along with Egypt and Mesopotamia. 
• It was developed alongside the river Indus and because of this it is also known as the Indus Valley Civilization. 
• The Harappan civilization is recognized as a Bronze-age civilization as most items have been found that are made up of copper based alloys.

Major Features of Civilization

• Urban Planning: Their towns had been properly deliberate and they had brick houses which have been situated alongside the roads.
  • Every residence was equipped with a staircase, a kitchen and several rooms. 
  • Their courtyards had wells, lavatories and that they had right drainage systems. 
• Ornaments: The Harappans wore ornaments made of gold, silver, ivory,shell, clay, semi-precious stones and others. 
• Trade and Commerce: The civilization had significant trade networks, achieving as far  as Mesopotamia, Afghanistan, and the Arabian Peninsula. 
• Religion and Iconography: Harappan artifacts depict numerous symbols and motifs believed to be related to religious beliefs.
  • These include figures which include the “Priest King” and pics of animals like bulls, suggesting feasible reverence for certain animals.
• Craftsmanship and Artistry: The Harappans produced intricate pottery, such as the well-known red pottery with black painted motifs.
  • They also created jewelry, sculptures, and seals fabricated from steatite, terracotta, and different substances.
• Agriculture: They cultivated crops which include wheat, barley, peas, and cotton.
• Social Organization: The society became possibly stratified, with proof suggesting a hierarchical shape. This is indicated by versions in housing sizes and the presence of public places.
• Decline and Disappearance: The reasons for the decline of the Harappan Civilization are nevertheless debated between historians and archaeologists.
  • Possible elements include ecological adjustments, together with shifts in river guides, in addition to invasions and internal conflicts.

Major Harappan Sites

Source: The Hindu

UPSC Prelims Practice Question

Q.Regarding the Indus Valley Civilization, consider the following statements:(2011)

1. It was predominantly a secular civilization and the religious element, though present, did not dominate the scene
2. During this period, cotton was used for manufacturing textiles in India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only                      (b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2           (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans – (c)

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