Rakhigarhi

WHY IN NEWS?

Centre’s plan to develop Rakhigarhi as a tourist hub and set up a museum has got the residents worried.

ABOUT RAKHIGARHI

• The site of Rakhigarhi is one of the five known biggest townships of Harappan civilization on Indian sub-continent.
• It is located in the state of Haryana.
• Other four are Harappa, Mohenjodaro and Ganveriwala in Pakistan and Dholavira (Gujrat) in India.
• It is the site of a pre-Indus Valley Civilisation settlement going back to about 6500 BCE.
• Later, it was also part of the mature Indus Valley Civilisation, dating to 2600-1900 BCE.
• Five interconnected mounds spread in a huge area form the Rakhigarhi's unique site. Two mounds, out of five, were thickly populated.
• This site was excavated by Shri Amarendra Nath of Archeological Survey of India.
• The archaeological excavations revealed mature Harappan phase represented by planned township having mud-brick as well as burnt-brick houses with proper drainage system.
• The ceramic industry represented by red ware, which included dish-on-stand, vase, jar, bowl, beaker, perforated jar, goblet and handis.
• Animal sacrificial pit lined with mud brick and triangular and circular fire alters on the mud floor have also been excavated that signifies the ritual system of Harappans.
• A cylindrical seal with five Harappan characters on one side and a symbol of an alligator on the other is an important find from this site.
• Other antiquities included blades; terracotta and shell bangles; beads of semiprecious stones, terracotta, shell and copper objects; animal figurines, toy cart frame and wheel of terracotta; bone points; inscribed steatite seals and sealings.
• The excavations have yielded a few extended burials, which certainly belong to a very late stage, may be the medieval times.

Prelims Question

Q. Rakhigarhi, one of the biggest townships of Harappan Civilization, is located in
a. Punjab
b. Gujarat
c. Rajasthan
d. Haryana

Answer to the Prelims Question