Dholavira

About Dholavira:

• Dholavira is an archaeological site in Kutch District, in the state of Gujarat.
• Also known locally as Kotada timba, the site contains ruins of an ancient Indus Valley Civilization/Harappan city.
• Dholavira’s location is on the Tropic of Cancer.
• It is one of the five largest Harappan sites and most prominent archaeological sites in India belonging to the Indus Valley Civilization.
• It is located on Khadir bet island in the Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary in the Great Rann of Kutch.
• The 47 ha (120 acres) quadrangular city lay between two seasonal streams, the Mansar in the north and Manhar in the south.
• The site was thought to be occupied from c.2650 BCE, declining slowly after about 2100 BCE, and to have been briefly abandoned then reoccupied until c.1450 BCE.

Structure of the city:

• Estimated to be older than the port-city of Lothal, the city of Dholavira has a rectangular shape and organization and is spread over 54 acres.
• Unlike Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, the city was constructed to a pre-existing geometrical plan consisting of three divisions – the citadel, the middle town, and the lower town.
• The acropolis and the middle town had been furnished with their own defence-work, gateways, built-up areas, street system, wells, and large open spaces.
• The acropolis is the most thoroughly fortified  and complex area in the city, of which it appropriates the major portion of the southwestern zone.
• The towering "castle" stands is defended by double ramparts. Next to this stands a place called the 'bailey' where important officials lived.
• There are extensive structure-bearing areas which are outside yet integral to the fortified settlement.
• Beyond the walls, another settlement has been found.
•  The most striking feature of the city is that all of its buildings, at least in their present state of preservation, are built of stone, whereas most other Harappan sites, including Harappa itself and Mohenjo-daro, are almost exclusively built of brick.
• The city had massive reservoirs which were used for storing fresh water brought by rains or to store water diverted from two nearby rivulets.

Prelims Question:

Consider the following statements regarding Dholavira:
1.It is located in Gujarat.
2.The city is divided into two tiers.
Which among the above statements is/are correct?
(a)1 only 
(b)2 only 
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2

Answer to prelims question