News: Recognising the historical, cultural, and tourism significance of Rakhigarhi, the Haryana government is undertaking concrete measures to develop and promote the site as a major archaeological destination on both the national and international tourism map.
Key Facts about Rakhigarhi Site
- Location: Rakhigarhi is located in the Hisar district of Haryana.
- River associated with: It is situated on the banks of the now-dry Saraswati (Ghaggar–Hakra) river system.
- Largest: It is considered the largest Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) site in India and one of the most significant archaeological discoveries in the subcontinent.
- It is one of the oldest and largest urban centres of the subcontinent’s earliest Bronze Age civilisation.
- Dating: Archaeologists suggest that Rakhigarhi may date back to around 2500–3000 BC, subject to confirmation through Carbon-14 dating.
- Findings at the site:
- 3 phases: Excavations at Rakhigarhi have revealed evidence of all three phases of the IVC-
- Early Harappan
- Mature Harappan
- Late Harappan
- DNA evidence: It has yielded the only known DNA evidence from the Harappan era, offering valuable insights into the genetic history of the civilisation.
- Craft: Large quantities of steatite beads, semi-precious stone beads, shells, agate, and carnelian objects were found, indicating flourishing craft production and trade.
- Hunting tools such as fish hooks were also recovered.
- Town Planning: The settlement was well planned, with mud and burnt-brick houses, efficient drainage, and proper sanitation.
- Excavations indicated an elite residential area with both burnt-brick and mud-brick structures.
- Granary: A mud-brick granary with rammed earth flooring and multiple chambers was discovered, suggesting organised storage, possibly controlled by public authorities or local elites.
- Pottery and seals: A seal bearing an alligator motif and Harappan script was discovered.
- The site also yielded diverse artefacts including blades, shell bangles, stone beads, animal figurines, and copper objects.
- Thick deposits of Hakra Ware have been found at the site, which are typically associated with pre-Early Harappan settlements.
- Red ware pottery such as dishes-on-stands, jars, bowls, beakers, goblets, and perforated jars reflects advanced ceramic traditions.
- Rituals and burials: Fire altars and evidence of animal sacrifice point to ritual practices.
- Most burials were typical, involving a single body in a plain pit laid in a supine position with the head towards the north.
- Two 5,000-year-old female skeletons found with pottery and artefacts indicate established burial customs.
- Other Burials contained complete skeletons laid in extended positions, selected bones placed in pots and pottery.
- Atypical burials included brick-lined graves, multiple burials in one pit, and prone (face-down) burials.
- 3 phases: Excavations at Rakhigarhi have revealed evidence of all three phases of the IVC-
