ASI’s excavation at Rakhigarhi reveals drainage system, copper and gold jewelry

• The digging at three of the seven mounds, has also revealed pieces of copper and gold jewelry, terracotta toys, besides thousands of earthen pots and seals.

Objectives of this excavation

The idea of this phase of excavation is to make the archaeological site of Rakhigarhi accessible to people by exposing the structural remains and conserving them for future viewing.

• To understand the settlement of Rakhigarhi and to identify the individuality and interrelationship of the seven mounds.
• The site was first excavated by the ASI in 1998-2001.

Latest Findings

The latest excavations at Rakhigarhi in Haryana’s Hisar district have revealed the structure of some houses, lanes and drainage system, and possibly a jewelry-making unit.

• A total 13 trenches are open across three mounds, five at Mound No. 1, seven in Mound No. 3 and one trench in Mound No. 7.
• Mound No. 3(first time excavations) revealed an aristocratic settlement.
• Mound 1 - huge quantities of debris/ waste of semi-precious stones such as agate and carnelian have been found, along with evidence of street planning with a general width of 2.6m.
• Mound 3 - burnt-brick wall has been traced, conveying the possibility of a walled settlement.
• The noteworthy antiquity found at both the mounds include steatite seals, terracotta unbaked sealing with relief of elephants and Harappan script.
• Mound 7 - yielded around 60 burials in the previous excavations.

Conclusion

The Union Culture Minister said that ancient mounds 6 and 7 at Rakhigarhi in Hisar, Haryana, are among 19 sites identified by the ASI that are going to be notified as “sites of national importance”.

Exam Track

Prelims Takeaway

• Rakhigarhi
• Harappan civilisation
• Terracotta and seals