Harappan Sites | History Optional for UPSC (Notes) PDF Download

Manda/ Akhnoor

• Akhnoor district in Jammu and Kashmir, located on the banks of the Chenab River. 
• Sites from the Mature and Late Harappan periods have been found here. 
• This is the northernmost site of the Harappan civilization. 
• Archaeological evidence includes Black Red Ware (BRW), red ware, and grey ware pottery. 
• Artefacts discovered at the site include: bangles, potshards with Harappan writings, and bone arrow heads. 
• Artefacts from the Kushana period include pottery, terracotta figurines, bone arrow heads, iron daggers, and copper rods. 
• The site was also a source of timber for Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) sites. 
• Akhnoor Fort, built by Raja Alam Singh in 1802, is a notable landmark in the district. 

Harappa

• Harappa is an ancient city located in Punjab, Pakistan, along the banks of the Ravi River. 
• The site has three phases: Early, Mature, and Late Harappan. 
• It was the first site of the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) to be discovered. 
• Harappa had an urban culture supported by surplus agricultural production and trade, including commerce with Sumer in southern Mesopotamia. 
• The city featured differentiated living areas, flat-roofed brick houses, and fortified centers for administration or religion. 
• Harappa was organized with grid planning, and a row of six granaries was discovered, indicating storage for surplus. 

Burials and Grave Goods:

• Harappa is unique for its evidence of coffin burials, fractional burials, and grave goods. 
• Cemetery-H at Harappa contained remains of people not originally from the area. 
• The site also featured a citadel and a fortified city. 
• Artifacts such as seals and stone figurines, including a torso of a naked male and female figure in a dancing pose, were found. 
• Evidence of bronze smelting has also been discovered at Harappa. 

Ropar/ Rupar

In Rupnagar district, Punjab:

• IVC, PGW, and NBPW: These are archaeological cultures found in the region. 
• No early Harappan level: Indicates that there was no evidence of the early Harappan phase in this area. 
• Transition from village to town: This change occurred around 600–200 BCE and was marked by the presence of NBPW, punch-marked coins, and copper coins. 
• Seal with Brahmi inscription:. seal bearing an inscription in the Brahmi script was discovered. 
• Houses: Structures were made of stone, mud-brick, and burnt brick. 
• Iron workshop and agate beads: Evidence of an iron workshop and agate beads was found in the NBPW context. 

Kalibangan

In Hanumangarh district, Rajasthan, on the bank of Ghaggar River:

Time Period: Pre-Harappan and Harappan 

• Pre-Harappan: During this phase, people used copper and produced pottery. There was no writing system, and the layout of the settlement was not orderly. They used sun-dried bricks for construction. 
• Harappan: This phase saw the development of a cemetery and a fortified citadel. The lower town was also fortified. People used mud and burnt bricks, and the town planning followed a grid pattern. Burnt bricks were used in drains, wells, bathing platforms, and fire altars. 

Other Features and Findings:

• Pottery: Pottery was used for household, religious, and burial purposes. Wheel-made red pottery was also found. 
• Unique Fire Altars: These suggest the practice of fire worship. 
• Ploughed Fields: Evidence of ploughed fields was found. 
• Seals: Rectangular and cylindrical seals were discovered. 
• Terracotta Objects: Terracotta bangles and figures of bulls were found. 
• Burials: Evidence of pit burials and urn burials was found. 

Banawali

• Location: Near the Rangoi River in Hissar district, Haryana. 
• Phases: Early, Mature, and Late Harappan phases. 

Housing:

• Mud-brick and burnt brick houses, some with hearths. 
• Evidence of a multi-roomed house, possibly belonging to a wealthy merchant. 

Infrastructure:

• Storage pits found in courtyards. 
• Wells, bathing pavements, and drains made from burnt bricks. 
• A fortified area divided by a wall into a higher citadel and a lower town. 

Religious and Cultural Artefacts:

• Fire altars discovered on-site. 
• Artefacts include stone weights, terracotta ploughs, and female figurines possibly of religious significance. 
• Beads made of gold, lapis lazuli, and carnelian, along with tiny weights. 

Decline:

• City life abruptly ended during the Late Harappan period. 
• Evidence of continued habitation with mud houses and a diverse range of artefacts. 

Bhirrana

Oldest Harappan Site:

• The oldest Harappan site, according to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), is located very close to Banawali. 

Rakhigarhi

• Hisar District in Haryana is known for its rich archaeological heritage, particularly related to the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC). 
• It is the largest site of the IVC in the region and features both early and mature Harappan remains. 
• During the mature Harappan phase, the area exhibited a planned township with mud-brick and burnt-brick houses, along with a sophisticated drainage system. 

Pottery and Ritualistic Finds:

• The pottery discovered includes various forms such as red ware, dish-on-stand, vase, jar, bowl, beaker, and perforated jar. 
• Additionally, an animal sacrificial pit and circular fire altars have been found, indicating the presence of a ritual system. 

Seals and Other Antiquities:

• A significant find includes a cylindrical seal with five Harappan characters. 
• Other antiquities unearthed from the site consist of blades, terracotta and shell bangles, beads made of semiprecious stones, copper objects, animal figurines, toy carts, terracotta wheels, bone points, and inscribed steatite seals and sealings. 

Alamgirpur

• This site is the easternmost known location of the Harappan civilization. 
• It was occupied during the Mature and Late Harappan periods. 
• There is no evidence of an Early Harappan level at this site. 
• During the Late Harappan period, burnt bricks and copper objects were found. 
• The Painted Grey Ware (PGW) period followed a Late Harappan level at this site. 
• There was a break in occupation between the Late Harappan period and the PGW period. 

Bhagatrav

• Located in Bharuch district, Gujarat
• Important port during the Harappan period 
• Evidence suggests decline of Harappan settlement due to flooding 

Lothal

• Location: Ahmedabad district, Gujarat. 
• Early History: Originally a small village during the pre-Harappan period. 
• Industries: Known for its harbor, cotton and rice cultivation, and bead-making industry. 
• City Layout: Divided into a citadel (upper town) and a lower town. 
• Construction Materials: Buildings made of fire-dried bricks, lime, and sand mortar. Evidence of a sophisticated drainage system. 

Important Archaeological Findings:

• Dockyard 
• Persian Gulf Seals 
• Shell Ornaments Maker’s Shop 
• Bead Maker’s Shop 
• Metal Worker’s Shop 
• Fire Altars 
• Terracotta Figurine of a House 
• Warehouse 
• Merchant House 
• Impression of Cloth on Sealing 
• Twelve Bathrooms in Citadel Area 
• Ivory Scale: Indicates smallest known decimal divisions in Indus civilization. 
• Trade Connections: Connected to other cities via river routes. Coastal trade route linked Lothal and Dholavira to Sutkagan Dor on the Makran coast. 

Later Harappan Culture:

• Continued to be inhabited but with a much smaller population. 
• Devoid of urban influences. 
• Trade and resources diminished. 
• Retained several Harappan practices in writing, pottery, and utensils. 

Rangpur

1. Location and Historical Phases

• Situated on the Saurashtra peninsula in Gujarat. 
• Represents the Mature and Late Harappan phases, as well as a Post-Harappan period. 

2. Construction Material

• Acacia wood was utilized in construction activities at the site. 

3. Artefacts Found

• Various artefacts were discovered, including dishes, Black and Red Ware (BRW), and high-necked jars. 
• Evidence of shell working was also found, indicating the craftsmanship involved in shell-related products. 

4. Plant Remains

• Plant remains discovered at the site included bajra (pearl millet), rice, and millet, suggesting the types of agriculture practiced. 

Rojdi

Archaeological Findings in Rajkot District, Gujarat:

• Time Periods: The site dates back to the Mature Harappan, Late Harappan, and Palaeolithic periods. 
• House Construction: Houses were built on stone foundations. No bricks were found at the site. 
• Pottery: Pottery found at the site is hard and made of red ware. 
• Graffiti and Script: Graffiti with signs from the Indus script was found, including a jar sign. A short Harappan inscription was also found on pots. 
• Tools: Copper or bronze flat axes were among the tools discovered at the site. 

Surkotada

• Kutch district is located in the state of Gujarat, India. 
• Lothal is an ancient city of the Indus Valley Civilization, situated in the Kutch district of Gujarat, India. 
• The site is known for its well-preserved dockyard, which is believed to be one of the earliest in the world. 

Ancient Settlement in Kutch District, Gujarat:

• Located on the land route to Lothal 
• Constructed using mud bricks and stone rubble 

Antiquities Found:

• Terracotta seal featuring Harappan pictographic script, but lacking animal imagery 
• Beads made of steatite and carnelian 
• Skeleton resembling a horse discovered 
• Elephant bone also unearthed 

Coastal Trade during Harappan Period:

• Evidence of coastal trade activities during the Harappan time 

Dholavira

• The ancient city of Dholavira, located in the Kutch district of Gujarat, is a significant archaeological site of the Harappan civilization. 
• Dholavira was a well-planned city with a unique layout, consisting of a citadel, a middle town, and a lower town. 
• The city had an advanced water conservation system, featuring channels and reservoirs made of stone to store and manage water effectively. 
• Seven hemispherical structures were discovered at the site, the purpose of which is still being studied. 
• Dholavira was connected to other coastal cities like Lothal and Sutkagan Dor on the Makran coast through a coastal route, indicating trade and communication links. 

Findings:

• Archaeologists found various artifacts in Dholavira, including painted black-and-red ware (BRW), square stamp seals, and seals without Indus script. 
• One of the most notable discoveries was the Dholavira signboard, which contains ten letters of the Indus script. This inscription is the longest known in the Indus script and provides valuable insights into the writing system of the Harappan people. 

Desalpur

• A small mature Harappan and late Harappan phase was found, with no evidence of an early Harappan phase.
• A very large fortification was discovered, constructed of stones with mud filling inside.
• Black Red Ware (BRW) pottery was present at the site.
• Occupation continued during the post-Harappan period.

Chanhudaro

• During the Mature Harappan phase, the site exhibited features such as streets, drains, and platforms made of mud bricks, indicating a level of urban planning and infrastructure.
• The presence of a street with covered drains made of burnt bricks suggests an advanced approach to sanitation and drainage.
• Pottery kilns found at the site indicate that it was a center for pottery production, contributing to the local craft industry.
• The site was likely a hub for various craft activities, including the working of semi-precious stones like carnelian, agate, amethyst, and crystal, as well as the production of beads from these materials.
• A bead factory, primarily focused on steatite, suggests specialization in bead-making, a significant craft in the Harappan culture.
• Other craft activities at the site included seal making, shell working, and the production of stone weights, indicating a diverse range of artisanal skills.
• The absence of fortification suggests that the site may not have been under constant threat or that the community had other means of security.

Mohenjodaro

• Located in Sindh, Pakistan, on the banks of the Indus River.
• Represents the Early Harappan and Mature Harappan phases.
• Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

City Layout:

• Divided into two main parts: the Citadel and the Lower City.

Citadel:

• Features the Great Bath, a large residential structure, the Great Granary, and two halls of assembly.

Lower Town:

• Consists of courtyard houses arranged in a grid pattern.
• Contains a large central well.

Houses:

• Equipped with smaller wells, bathrooms, and drains, similar to the streets.
• Brick stairs indicate the presence of at least one upper story.

Challenges:

• Experienced multiple floods due to the encroaching Indus River and tectonic uplifts.

Artefacts:

• Include a bronze dancing girl, stone sculptures of seated male figures and a Priest King, the Pashupati seal (interpreted as proto-Shiva), a seven-stranded necklace, and beads made of ivory, lapis, carnelian, and gold.

Shortugai

In Northern Afghanistan:

• IVC trading post: This post was linked to the lapis lazuli mines in the nearby area.
• Finds: Various artifacts were discovered, including:
• A seal with a brief inscription.
• Square seals featuring animal motifs.
• Clay models of cattle with carts.
• Painted pottery displaying Harappan designs.
• Jars, beakers, bronze objects, gold pieces, lapis lazuli beads, and shell bangles.

Sutkagen Dor

Makran Coast, Pakistan:

• Westernmost Harappan site.
• Features include a citadel, lower town, and a fortification wall made of stones.
• Served as a coastal route connecting Gujarat sites like Lothal and Dholavira to Sutkagen-dor on the Makran coast.
• Important point along the Harappan to Mesopotamia trade route.
• Artifacts found include stone vessels, stone arrowheads, copper arrowheads, shell beads, pottery, and a copper-bronze disc.