About the Book 'Glory that was Harappan Civilization' is indeed, a complete book based on recent informations and perspectives of the great Harappan /Indus Civilization. This is the first of its kind to provide in short a complete picture on the birth, rise and fall of the Harappan Civilization together with its pertinent features for the students, and to those who want to make an acquaintance with the archaeology of this sub-continent. Till date, the study on the Harappan Civilization was only confined to the erudite society, this publication has taken them into the door step of every individuals.
I am sure that this book will be the feast of eye for people from different walk of life.
About the Author Sanjib Kumar Singh, M.A. from Patna University is a trained Archaeologist and Museologist also belongs to the first batch of the Institute of Archaeology of ASI, New Delhi. He has also studied Museology at NFMK, Seoul and Korean Language from SW University, South Korea. At present he is working in the National Museum, New Delhi. Besides books on Prehistory, Indus Valley Civilization, Buddhist Art, he has published a number of research papers in the national and international journals, periodicals, etc. He is also Editor of Krishnayan (Essay on Archaeology), Ramargliya & National Museum News letter. Presently he is engaged seriously in the study of the new aspects of the history of Candelas.
He has been deputed by the Govern-ment of India to different countries Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Belgium, Germany, United State of America together with Malaysia, France, Austria. etc. to organize international exhibitions which were coordinated, planned, conceptualised or organized by him as a team member and to deliver the public lectures. As on now he is one of the Brand Ambassador of Cultural Partnership Initiative programme of the Government of South Korea which could be visited at www.culturefriends.or.kr.
Nayan Ananda Chakrabarty did his Post Graduation in Archaeology from Calcutta University and took Post Graduate Diploma in Archaeology from the Institute of Archaeology, New Delhi. He was the first archaeologist to receive Junior Research Fellowship at Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur on Archaeometallurgy. Before his joining in the Archaeological Survey of India he was actively associated with various projects of the West Bengal State Archaeology that published in the form of a monograph by the Govt. of West Bengal. He has also served as a curator in a Govt. museum. Being posted in different circles and branches of the ASI he had the privilege of studying a variety of monuments and sites, and contributed both in the documentation as well as numerous excavation and exploration works. He is the author of numerous articles and research papers based on various aspects of archaeology that published in journals and books of international repute. He is also the co author of a series of publications on various protected monuments of the ASI. At present Sh. Chakrabarty is engaged in studying the metal objects of the excavated site of Dholavira and Banawali.
Sangeeta (Roy) Chakrabarty after obtaining her Post Graduation degree in Archaeology trom Calcutta University did Post Graduate Diploma in Archaeology from the Institute of Archaeology, New Delhi. She was awarded Gold medal from Lucknow University for her meritorious Ph.D. on the 'Handaxe-Cleaver Culture of the Western Upland of the West Bengal'. On behalf of West Bengal State Archaeology and Archaeological Survey of India, she had participated in a number of explorations, excavations, documenting a huge number of stone tools and sculptures beside preparing the inventory of monuments both in UP and Rajasthan. She was granted fellowship in the project on the 'Annotated Archaeological Atlas of West Bengal. These experiences have been reflected on her number of articles and research papers published in reputed books and journals. Presently she is making a scientific study on the lithic objects of the Harappan site of Dholavira and Banawali.
Foreword The present volume is a valuable addition to the growing corpus of literature on Indus Valley Civilization It provides a lucid and succinct account of Indus Valley sites, and their precursors and progenies in India, Baluchistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan. It supports the account with latest information on newly excavated sites like Dholavira, Junikuran, Dhalewan, Rakhigarhi, Baror, Chak 86, Sanauli etc, along with maps, plans and a site index, comprising geo coordinates of 2591 sites. It highlights monumental as well as non-monumental features that contributed to the cardio vascular respiration, circulation and ambience of the cities. It illustrates aspects of human and natural resource management, material culture and artistic production, agriculture and trade, social structure and mental horizon of the people in these cities. It provides a scholar, a student and a conscientious lay reader with a clear understanding of the evolution and spread of the civilization, the preciosity and sophistication of its art and architecture, the blend of beauty and utility in its tools and implements and its impact on contemporary and subsequent cultures.
Congratulate my colleagues and compeers in learning, Shri Sanjib Kumar Singh, Dr. Sangeeta and Nayan Chakraborty for presenting an excellent interpretative summary of the latest field archaeological research on the Indus Valley Civilization.
Preface The idea of bringing out this publication was conceptualized since a long back, but due to untimely death of one of its authors, Sri Ajay Kumar, our adored friend popularly known as, 'Partner' from the first batch of the Institute of Archaeology, all our efforts were nipped in the bud. Later, it was decided that the best possible way to keep his reminiscence alive is to carry this work into effect. 'Partner' was very keen to see a very simple but informative publication on the Harappan Civilization beneficial for those students wannabe for archaeology. The Harappa or Indus Valley Civilization, one of the most advanced urban civilizations of the world has ma this subcontinent proud by virtue of its enormity as, till date, the number of sites have gone up more than thousands. By dint of fresh explorations and excavations, more information and knowledge are be ing added to this culture whereas lots of such sites remain unnoticed or unexcavated. The century long researches have established the fact that the rise of this culture was not a spontaneous one, rather its process was commenced much earlier in various sites located in the hills and plains of modern Baluchistan, Af ghanistan and Pakistan and eventually decayed due to a range of causes. This spectacular civilization, famous for its high degree of urbanization is unique in every facet; it has left a distinct personality of its own which separates them among the contemporary cultures. The long legacy left by the Harappans is still very much alive with in the present day society of India.
Since independence, extensive explorations and excavations in different parts of this subcontinent have contributed our knowledge to the Harappans. Keeping in view of this, a site index has been provided at the end for offering a first hand information about the nature and locations of the same. These findings have: been exhaustively dealt by numerous reputed academicians and researchers and more such are on its way of publication. But, due to their intellectual standard, mostly these are confined to the erudite society, leaving the common people hardly aware of their tangible knowledge.
Introduction The discovery of Harappa and Mohenjodaro marks the opening of a new era in the history and archaeology of this subcontinent. It was in the year 1921. while laying the foundation of the Multan Railway track through Harappa, near Sahiwal district on the river Indus, in Punjab, Pakistan, Britishers noticed soothe unusual shape and texture of bricks taken from the ruins and mounds around Harappa. It immediately drew the attention of the archaeologists and subsequently, Daya Ram Sahni of the Archaeological Survey of India undertook excavations at Harappa As the civilization was first reported from Harappa, hence it has been named as the Harappan Civilization. Later on, owing to its extension along the river Indus, it has also been designated as the Indus Valley Civilization. In course of time, archaeological researches have brought to light a considerable number of sites which showed that the horizon of this civilization was not only restricted in and around Indus, but further expanded upto the Saraswati, Ghaggar-Hakra Valley, Upper reaches of the Ganga Yamuna Doab, Rann of Kutch and Upper reaches of the Godavari Valley. With this momentum discovery, India and its sub continent became the cradle of one of the most ancient civilizations of the world comparable to other great civilizations like Egypt. Sumer and Babylon.
Long before the excavation at Harappa, number of travellers visited those ruins and collected materials without realizing their archaeological importance. It was perhaps Charles Masson, an English traveller, who was believed to have visited Harappa for the first time in 1826. He was followed by Alexander Burns who visited the place in 1831. Both the travellers have left behind a vivid account of their visits. Alexander Cunningham, the first Archaeological Surveyor, visited Harappa several times between 1853-1873 and reported few seals, pottery and stone implements. Cunningham's visits were followed by D.R. Bhandarkar's expedition both at Mohenjodaro and Harappa in 1911, but the structural remains of these sites failed to draw his attention.
Book's Contents and Sample Pages
