Highlights:
• Two women’s skeletons were discovered along with jewelry during the excavation
• Utensils used by the deceased were discovered alongside the skeletons.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has been conducting new excavations at Rakhigarhi in Haryana for the past 32 years, and it is home to some of the most well-known Harrapan civilization sites.
Overview
With the excavation of a 5000-year-old factory that used to manufacture jewelry, ASI appears to have made one of its most significant discoveries in the 7,000-year-old planned Harappan city.
Excavation and research at Rakhigarhi have revealed that this site once housed not only a planned Harappan city with some of the best engineering marvels of the time but also traded and conducted business. Streets, pucca walls, and multi-story houses were discovered by the archaeologists as evidence of town planning. The excavation site in Rakhigarhi also revealed evidence of modern engineering that is currently being used to build large cities, such as straight streets, drains, and garbage bins placed at street corners.
Two women’s skeletons were discovered along with jewelry during the most recent round of excavation in Rakhigarhi, which is expected to be completed by the end of May.
Utensils used by the deceased were discovered alongside the skeletons
Sanjay K Manjul, Joint Director General, ASI, told that the Rakhigarhi archaeological site has seven mounds, and pieces of Harappan culture evidence have been discovered in all seven of them. “Previous excavations have occurred, and this is the third phase,” he explained.
The archaeologist said that well-led planning could be seen here, with streets and walls along with it, house complexes, drainage systems, burnt brick structural support, and a variety of pottery components, with many paintings showing improved baking techniques.
How will ASI develop Rakhigarhi in the future?
According to sources, a procedure is underway for a memorandum of understanding between the ASI and the Haryana government, under which the ancient objects from Rakhigarhi will be displayed in a Haryana government museum.
In September 2022, the ASI will begin excavations and then open these mounds to the public so that tourists can learn more about them. Tourists will soon flock to Rakhigarhi in droves, as officials hope that when they see the ruins, they will learn more about the antique and the truth about it.
Rakhigarhi will be developed as one of the five best iconic places, according to the Central government’s announcement in the Union Budget 2020-21, with excavation beginning on February 24, 2022. Apart from exposing structural remains, the government’s goal is to make it easier for tourists to visit Rakhigarhi. It also aims to comprehend Harappa’s settlement in Rakhigarhi and the interrelationship of the seven mounds.
