The archaeologists in Kutch have found remains of another pre-Harappan site that is evident of a flourishing human settlement in the region. The archaeologists believe that the structure they unearthed resembles a cemetery belonging to the Harappan times indicating the presence of human settlement in the area.
The ruins were discovered by a team of archaeologists from Kutch University and Kerala University after two weeks of excavation at the site near Nani Khatia village in Lakhpat taluka, about 102 KM away from Bhuj. The area of excavation stretches around five square km.
The stones found from the site strongly suggest a presence of over 100 burial sites in the area. The head of the Department of Archaeology of Kutch University, Subash Bhandari believes that this settlement at Dholavira existed at the same time when the most distinguished Indus Valley Civilization site, was blossoming.
Bhandari further added that his team has founded pottery shards, beads and broken bangles from the site. Similar shards and beads were excavated from the burial sites at the Harappa as well. Bhandari mentioned that the finding of similar stones from this site lends greater credence to a presence of more burial sites in the environs. Bhandari says that there are more than 100 burial sites in the area and now they will dig 10 to 15 trenches for further excavation.
Bricks and some other items excavated are examined to determine the era to which they belong. A preliminary survey of the area was started by both the universities in 2016 using differential geographic positioning system (DGPS) and drones to get details of the geomorphology and topography of the landscape.
A few days back, archaeologists discovered a couple’s skeleton in the same grave in Haryana, which according to them is the first anthropologically confirmed joint burial of a couple in any Harappan cemetery. The grave was excavated from the Harappan settlements at Rakhigarhi in Haryana, 150km northwest of Delhi. Even with this grave, pottery and bowls were found buttressing the claim that the Harappans believed in life after death.
