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Dholavira 1

Dholavira

Dholavira

(Gujarati)

Shown within India

Location Kutch District, Gujarat, India

Coordinates235310N 70130E

[1]Coordinates: 235310N70130E

[1]

Type Settlement

Length 771 m (2,530 ft)

Width 617 m (2,024 ft)

Area 100 ha (250 acres)

History

Periods Harappan 2 to Harappan 5

Cultures Indus Valley Civilization

Site notes

Excavation dates 1990present

Condition Ruined

Ownership Public

Public access Yes

Dholavira (Gujarati: ) is an archaeological site in Bhachau Taluka ofKutch District, in the state of Gujarat in

western India, which has taken its name from a modern village 1 km (0.62 mi) south of it. Also known locally as

Kotada timba the site contains ruins of an ancient Indus Valley Civilization/Harappan city. It is one of the five

largest Harappan sites[]

and most prominent archaeological sites in India belonging to the Indus Valley Civilization.

It is also considered as grandest of cities[]

of its time. It is located on the Khadir bet island in the Kutch Desert

Wildlife Sanctuary in Great Rann of Kutch and the area of the full site is more than 100 ha (250 acres).[2]

The site

was occupied from c.2650 BCE, declining slowly after about 2100 BCE. It was briefly abandoned and reoccupied

until c.1450 BCE.[]

The site was discovered in 1967-8 by J. P. Joshi and is the fifth largest of eight major Harappan sites. It has been

under excavation since 1990 by the Archaeological Survey of India, which opines that "Dholavira has indeed added

new dimensions to personality of Indus Valley Civilisation."[]

The other major Harappan sites discovered so far are:

Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Ganeriwala, Rakhigarhi, Kalibangan, Rupnagar and Lothal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Harappahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mohenjo-darohttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ganeriwalahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rakhigarhihttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kalibanganhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rupnagarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lothalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lothalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rupnagarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kalibanganhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rakhigarhihttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ganeriwalahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mohenjo-darohttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Harappahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Archaeological_Survey_of_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Great_Rann_of_Kutchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kutch_Desert_Wildlife_Sanctuaryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kutch_Desert_Wildlife_Sanctuaryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indus_Valley_Civilizationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indus_Valley_Civilizationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gujarathttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kutch_Districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Talukahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Archaeological_sitehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gujarati_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indus_Valley_Civilizationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Periodization_of_the_Indus_Valley_Civilizationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Periodization_of_the_Indus_Valley_Civilizationhttp://tools.wmflabs.org/geohack/geohack.php?pagename=Dholavira&params=23_53_10_N_70_13_0_E_type:landmarkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Geographic_coordinate_systemhttp://tools.wmflabs.org/geohack/geohack.php?pagename=Dholavira&params=23_53_10_N_70_13_0_E_type:landmarkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gujarathttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kutch_Districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:India_location_map.svg

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Dholavira 2

Chronology of Dholavira

Layout of Dholavira

R.S. Bisht, the director of the Dholavira excavations, has defined

following seven stages of occupation, at the site:[3]

Stages Dates

Stage I 26502550 BCE Early HarappanMature Harappan Transition A

Stage II 25502500 BCE Early HarappanMature Harappan Transition B

Stage III 25002200 BCE Mature Harappan A

Stage IV 22002000 BCE Mature Harappan B

Stage V 20001900 BCE Mature Harappan C

19001850 BCE Period of desertion

Stage VI 18501750 BCE Posturban Harappan A

17501650 BCE Period of desertion

Stage VII 16501450 BCE Posturban Harappan B

Excavations

Excavation was initiated in 1989 by the Archaeological Survey of India under the direction of R. S. Bisht and there

were 13 field excavations between 1990 and 2005.[]

The excavation brought to light the urban planning and

architecture, and unearthed large numbers of antiquities such as seals, beads, animal bones, gold, silver, terracotta

ornaments, pottery and bronze vessels. Archaeologists believeWikipedia:Vagueness that Dholavira was an important

centre of trade between settlements in south Gujarat, Sindh and Punjab and Western Asia.[4][5]

Architecture and material culture

Estimated to be older than the port-city of Lothal,[citation needed]

the city of Dholavira has a rectangular shape andorganization, and is spread over 100 ha (250 acres). The area measures 771.1 m (2,530 ft) in length, and 616.85 m

(2,023.8 ft) in width.[]

Like Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, the city is composed to a pre-existing geometrical plan, of

three divisions the citadel, the middle town and the lower town.[6]

The acropolis and the middle town had been

further furnished with their own defence-work, gateways, built-up areas, street system, wells and large open spaces.

The acropolis is the most carefully guarded[]

as well as complex in the city of which it appropriates the major portion

of the southwestern zone. The towering "castle" stands in fair insulation and defended by double ramparts.[7]

Next to

this stands a place called 'bailey' where important officials lived.[8]

The city within the general fortification accounts

for 48 ha (120 acres). There are extensive structure-bearing areas though outside yet integral to the fortified

settlement. Beyond the walls, yet another settlement has been found.[]

The most striking feature of the city is that all

of its buildings, at least in their present state of preservation, are built out of stone, whereas most other Harappansites, including Harappa itself and Mohenjo-daro, are almost exclusively built out of brick.

[9]Dholavira is flanked by

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Citadelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mohenjo-darohttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Harappahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lothalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Punjab_regionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sindhhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gujarathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaguenesshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File%3ADholavira_Layout.jpg

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Dholavira 3

two storm water channels; the Mansar in the north, and the Manhar in the south.

Reservoirs

One of the water reservoirs, with steps, at

Dholavira

"The kind of efficient system of Harappans of Dholavira, developed for

conservation, harvesting and storage of water speaks eloquently about

their advanced hydraulic engineering, given the state of technology in

the third millennium BCE" says R.S.Bist, Joint Director General

(Rtd.), Archeological Survey of India.[]

One of the unique features[10]

of Dholavira is the sophisticated water conservation system

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Dholavira 4

These hemispherical structures bear similarity to early Buddhist stupas.[]

The Archeological Survey of India, which

conducted the excavation, opines that "the kind of design that is of spoked wheel and unspoked wheel also remind

one of the Sararata-chakra-citi and sapradhi-rata-chakra-citi mentioned in the Satapatha Brahmana and Sulba-sutras,"

which belong to a much later period (This last clause does not appear in the reference cited, although an effort seems

to have been made to club them together.).[]

Findings

Painted Indus black-on-red-ware pottery, square stamp seals, seals without Indus script, a huge sign board measuring

about 3 m in length, containing ten letters of Indus script etc.[]

One poorly preserved seated male figure made of

stone has also been found, comparable to high quality two stone sculptures found at Harappa.[14]

Large black-slipped

jars with poiinted base were also found at this site.[]

A giant bronze hammer, a big chisel, a bronze hand-held mirror,

a gold wire, gold ear stud, gold globules with holes, copper celts and bangles, shell bangles, phallus-like symbols of

stone, square seals with indus inscription and signs, a circular seal, carleian humped animals, pottery with painted

motifs, goblets, dish-on-stand, perforated jars, Terracotta tumblers in good shape, architectural members made of

ballast stones, grinding stones, mortars, etc., were also found at this site.[]

Stone weights of different measures were

also found.[15]

Coastal route

It is suggested that a coastal route existed linking Lothal and Dholavira to Sutkagan Dor on the Makran coast.[]

Language and script

The Harrapans spoke an unknown language and their script has not yet been deciphered. It is believed to have had

about 400 basic signs, with many variations.[16]

The signs may have stood both for words and for syllables.[16]

The

direction of the writing was generally from right to left.[17]

Most of the inscriptions are found on seals (mostly made

out of stone) and sealings (pieces of clay on which the seal was pressed down to leave its impression). Some

inscriptions are also found on copper tablets, bronze implements, and small objects made of terracotta, stone and

faience. The seals may have been used in trade and also for official administrative work.[18]

A lot of inscribed

material was found at Mohenjo-daro and other Indus Valley Civilisation sites.

Sign board

Ten Indus glyphs discovered near the northern

gate of Dholavira

One of the most significant discoveries at Dholavira was made in one

of the side rooms of the northern gateway of the city, and is often

called the Dholavira Signboard. The Harappans had arranged and set

pieces of the mineral gypsum to form ten large symbols or letters on abig wooden board

[19]At some point, the board fell flat on its face. The

wood decayed, but the arrangement of the letters survived. The letters

of the signboard are comparable to large bricks that were used in

nearby walls. Each sign is about 37 cm (15 in) high and the board on which letters were inscribed was about 3 m

(9.8 ft) long.[20]

The inscription is one of the longest in the Indus script, with one symbol appearing four times, and

this and its large size and public nature make it a key piece of evidence cited by scholars arguing that the Indus script

represents full literacy. A four sign inscription with big size letters on a sand stone is also found at this site,

considered first of such inscription on sand stone at any of Harappan sites.[]

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gypsumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File%3AThe_%27Ten_Indus_Scripts%27_discovered_near_the_northern_gateway_of_the_Dholavira_citadel.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indus_Valley_Civilisationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mohenjo-darohttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Faiencehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sutkagan_Dorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lothalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Terracottahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sulba-sutrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Satapatha_Brahmana

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Dholavira 5

References

[1] http:/ /tools.wmflabs. org/geohack/geohack. php?pagename=Dholavira& params=23_53_10_N_70_13_0_E_type:landmark

[2] http:/ /whc.unesco. org/en/tentativelists/1090/

[3] Possehl, Gregory. (2004). The Indus Civilization: A contemporary perspective, New Delhi: Vistaar Publications, ISBN 81-7829-291-2, p.67.

[4] Aqua Dholavira - Archaeology Magazine Archive (http://www.archaeology. org/0011/newsbriefs/aqua.html). Archaeology.org.

Retrieved on 2013-07-28.

[5] McIntosh, Jane (2008). The Ancient Indus Valley: New Perspectives. ABC-CLIO. Page 177 (http://books. google. co.in/books?id=1AJO2A-CbccC& printsec=frontcover& dq=The+ Ancient+Indus+ Valley&hl=en& sa=X&ei=UFLoT5-2KNDqrQeWndzyCA&

ved=0CDoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage& q=export& f=false)

[6] McIntosh, Jane.(2008) The Ancient Indus Valley: New Perspectives ABC-CLIO. Page 174 (http://books. google. co.in/

books?id=1AJO2A-CbccC& printsec=frontcover& dq=The+ Ancient+Indus+ Valley&hl=en& sa=X&ei=UFLoT5-2KNDqrQeWndzyCA&

ved=0CDoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage& q=Dholavira& f=false)

[7] McIntosh, Jane.(2008) The Ancient Indus Valley: New Perspectives ABC-CLIO. Page 224 (http://books. google. co.in/

books?id=1AJO2A-CbccC& printsec=frontcover& dq=The+ Ancient+Indus+ Valley&hl=en& sa=X&ei=UFLoT5-2KNDqrQeWndzyCA&

ved=0CDoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage& q=Dholavira& f=false)

[8] McIntosh, Jane.(2008) The Ancient Indus Valley : New Perspective. Page 226 (http://books. google. co.in/books?id=1AJO2A-CbccC&

printsec=frontcover& dq=The+ Ancient+Indus+ Valley&hl=en& sa=X&ei=UFLoT5-2KNDqrQeWndzyCA&

ved=0CDoQ6AEwAA#v=snippet& q=export dholavira& f=false)

[9][9] Sri Mortimer Wheeler. The Indus Civilisation. London 1972

[13] Possehl, Gregory. (2004). The Indus Civilization: A contemporary perspective, New Delhi: Vistaar Publications, ISBN 81-7829-291-2, p.69.

[16] Parpola, Asko (2005) Study of the Indus Script(http://www.helsinki.fi/~aparpola/tices_50.pdf). 50th ICES Tokyo Session.

[18][18] Kenoyer, Jonathan Mark. Indus Cities, Towns and Villages. American Institute of Pakistan Studies, Islamabad. 1998

[19][19] Kenoyer, Jonathan Mark. Ancient Cities of the Indus Valley Civilisation. Oxford University Press. 1998

[20] Possehl, Gregory. (2004). The Indus Civilization: A contemporary perspective, New Delhi: Vistaar Publications, ISBN 81-7829-291-2, p.70.

External links

Excavations at Dholavira (http://asi.nic. in/asi_exca_2007_dholavira.asp) in Archaeological Survey of India

website

Dholavira Pictures (http://asi.nic.in/asi_exca_2007_dholavira_images.asp) by Archeological Survey of India

website

Jurassic Park: Forest officials stumble upon priceless discovery near Dholavira (http://www.indianexpress.com/

news/jurassic-park-forest-officials-stumble-upon/20356/); Express news service; 8 Jan 2007; Indian Express

Newspaper

ASIs effort to put Dholavira on World Heritage map hits roadblock (http://www.expressindia.com/

latest-news/asis-effort-to-put-dholavira-on-world-heritage-map-hits-roadblock/422945/); by Hitarth Pandya; 13

Feb 2009; Indian Express Newspaper

ASI to take up excavation in Kutch's Khirasara (http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-11-02/

vadodara/28083565_1_excavation-branch-harappan-period-asi); by Prashant Rupera, TNN; 2 November 2009;

Times of India

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-11-02/vadodara/28083565_1_excavation-branch-harappan-period-asihttp://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-11-02/vadodara/28083565_1_excavation-branch-harappan-period-asihttp://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/asis-effort-to-put-dholavira-on-world-heritage-map-hits-roadblock/422945/http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/asis-effort-to-put-dholavira-on-world-heritage-map-hits-roadblock/422945/http://www.indianexpress.com/news/jurassic-park-forest-officials-stumble-upon/20356/http://www.indianexpress.com/news/jurassic-park-forest-officials-stumble-upon/20356/http://asi.nic.in/asi_exca_2007_dholavira_images.asphttp://asi.nic.in/asi_exca_2007_dholavira.asphttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gregory_Possehlhttp://www.helsinki.fi/~aparpola/tices_50.pdfhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gregory_Possehlhttp://books.google.co.in/books?id=1AJO2A-CbccC&printsec=frontcover&dq=The+Ancient+Indus+Valley&hl=en&sa=X&ei=UFLoT5-2KNDqrQeWndzyCA&ved=0CDoQ6AEwAA#v=snippet&q=export%20dholavira&f=falsehttp://books.google.co.in/books?id=1AJO2A-CbccC&printsec=frontcover&dq=The+Ancient+Indus+Valley&hl=en&sa=X&ei=UFLoT5-2KNDqrQeWndzyCA&ved=0CDoQ6AEwAA#v=snippet&q=export%20dholavira&f=falsehttp://books.google.co.in/books?id=1AJO2A-CbccC&printsec=frontcover&dq=The+Ancient+Indus+Valley&hl=en&sa=X&ei=UFLoT5-2KNDqrQeWndzyCA&ved=0CDoQ6AEwAA#v=snippet&q=export%20dholavira&f=falsehttp://books.google.co.in/books?id=1AJO2A-CbccC&printsec=frontcover&dq=The+Ancient+Indus+Valley&hl=en&sa=X&ei=UFLoT5-2KNDqrQeWndzyCA&ved=0CDoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Dholavira&f=falsehttp://books.google.co.in/books?id=1AJO2A-CbccC&printsec=frontcover&dq=The+Ancient+Indus+Valley&hl=en&sa=X&ei=UFLoT5-2KNDqrQeWndzyCA&ved=0CDoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Dholavira&f=falsehttp://books.google.co.in/books?id=1AJO2A-CbccC&printsec=frontcover&dq=The+Ancient+Indus+Valley&hl=en&sa=X&ei=UFLoT5-2KNDqrQeWndzyCA&ved=0CDoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Dholavira&f=falsehttp://books.google.co.in/books?id=1AJO2A-CbccC&printsec=frontcover&dq=The+Ancient+Indus+Valley&hl=en&sa=X&ei=UFLoT5-2KNDqrQeWndzyCA&ved=0CDoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Dholavira&f=falsehttp://books.google.co.in/books?id=1AJO2A-CbccC&printsec=frontcover&dq=The+Ancient+Indus+Valley&hl=en&sa=X&ei=UFLoT5-2KNDqrQeWndzyCA&ved=0CDoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Dholavira&f=falsehttp://books.google.co.in/books?id=1AJO2A-CbccC&printsec=frontcover&dq=The+Ancient+Indus+Valley&hl=en&sa=X&ei=UFLoT5-2KNDqrQeWndzyCA&ved=0CDoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Dholavira&f=falsehttp://books.google.co.in/books?id=1AJO2A-CbccC&printsec=frontcover&dq=The+Ancient+Indus+Valley&hl=en&sa=X&ei=UFLoT5-2KNDqrQeWndzyCA&ved=0CDoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=export&f=falsehttp://books.google.co.in/books?id=1AJO2A-CbccC&printsec=frontcover&dq=The+Ancient+Indus+Valley&hl=en&sa=X&ei=UFLoT5-2KNDqrQeWndzyCA&ved=0CDoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=export&f=falsehttp://books.google.co.in/books?id=1AJO2A-CbccC&printsec=frontcover&dq=The+Ancient+Indus+Valley&hl=en&sa=X&ei=UFLoT5-2KNDqrQeWndzyCA&ved=0CDoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=export&f=falsehttp://www.archaeology.org/0011/newsbriefs/aqua.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gregory_Possehlhttp://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/1090/http://tools.wmflabs.org/geohack/geohack.php?pagename=Dholavira&params=23_53_10_N_70_13_0_E_type:landmark

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