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Indus Valley Civilization was one of the
world's first great civilizations. It is also known as Harappan
civilization. In Gujarat, Rangpur in Limdi Taluka of
Ahmedabad district was the first site, which was excavated after
independence as it was suspected to be a Harappan outpost.
Rangpur represented a late phase of the mature Harappan culture.
Further surveys of the peninsulas of Sourashtra and Kutch and
the mainland of Gujarat from 1954 to 1958 brought to light
different phases of the Harappan civilization and thereby added
a new province to the Indus Empire.
Around 2500 B.C., the Harappans probably started
infiltrating into Kutch and settled down there with an amazing
speed and strength. So far 60 Indus settlements have been found
in Kutch. Out of them about 40 belong to the 'early phase'
and the remaining represent the 'later phase' of the
mature Harappan culture. Only five settlements of the 'early
phase' continue into the 'late phase' and the remaining are new
settlements of the last Harappans.
On the basis of general evidence coming up from Kutch and parts
of Gujarat it appears that the Harppans brought here their full
blown culture and liked almost a full life before their culture
declined and fragmented causing large scale migration from Kutch
to the hinterland of Gujarat and also perhaps Sourashtra.
Dholavira
Of all the Harappan sites, the site
of Dholavira locally known as Kotada, in the
Khadir island of Kutch, stands apart. It is remarkable for its magnificent planning and
enormity of area and deposit. On the present showing, it is one
of the two largest settlement in India and the fourth or fifth
largest in the subcontinent, the others being Mohenjo-daro,
Harappa, Gharo Bhiro (all in Pakistan) and Rakhigarhi (in
India). No wonder, if it was the metropolis of the entire Kutch
or even a larger area.
Lothal
Lothal is the name of an ancient mound situated in the revenue
jurisdiction of Saragwala Village in Dholka Taluka of Ahmedabad
District in Gujarat State. The word "Lothal" meaning 'Place of
the dead' in Gujarat language is said to have been formed by
combining the words
Loth and thal (sthal). Lothal is essentially a
single site. The Harappan Culture in all its variant forms is
well represented here. The Harappans were attracted to Lothal
not only by its sheltered harbor with a rich cotton-and
rice-growing hinterland but also by its bead-making industry.
Surkotoa
Around 2300 BC, the Harappans came to Surkotada and built a
fortified citadel and residential annex, made of mud brick, mud
lumps and rubble. Houses were with bathrooms and drains. They
had painted pottery with Indus alphabet painted on the pots,
chest blades and copper objects, a typical Harappa seal has also
been found. Other inserting finds are clay linga like objects
evidently of cult significance. Bones of the
Equus from the earliest levels are the other important
discovery in that they show the animal was known to the
Harappans. Some important finds are typical Harappan terracotta
seal, a heavy copper chisel, a hoard of copper beads and bangles
and terracotta toys, tanks and beads besides animal skeletal
remains of the horse, camel, elephant and sheep.
The excavations have revealed that the Harappans lived here
along with an antecedent culture with all their typical modes of
habitation and cultural assemblage and continued even after the
mature phase was over.
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