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India: ‘Indus Valley civilization was more varied and wider’ India

Submitted by coldrum on Saturday, 31 March 2007  Page Views: 11398

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Country: India The Indus Valley civilization was much more varied and wider than historians believed till date,” said Professor of Archaeology and Heritage Management, Boston University, Mohammed Rafique Mughal on Monday. "Extensive exploration and excavation of sites in the upper Indus Valley and the lower Sindh have revealed a widespread cultural phenomena which existed at that time," said Mughal, delivering the Dr I H Qureshi Memorial Lecture, the Harappan civilization, at St Stephen's College.

Claiming that field researches at Harappan sites—both in India and Pakistan —are leading to fresh interpretations, Mughal said, "While we are still striving to understand various aspects of this civilization, certain cultural patterns are emerging from the current research that offers new perspective to various aspects of the Harappan Civilization."

Born in Pakistan, Professor Mughal is an archaeologist of international repute. His primary research is on South Asian archaeology, Indus Valley archaeology and international heritage management.

"The Neolithic settlement at Mehrgarh, located within the physiographic region of upper Sindh, has revealed that human settlement in the Indus region dates back to sixth millennium BC. A remarkable complexity in architecture, social stratification, elaborate burial practice and emerging craft specialization have been found, but the evidence is not conclusive enough to link the Neolithic horizon of Mehrgarh with the nest state of human cultural development, labelled as Hakra and Kot Dijian," said Professor Mughal.

Professor Mughal called for collective efforts rather than individuals for bringing to the fore various aspects of the Indus Valley Civilization. "Still a lot has to be done. The findings have made us realise how ignorant we are in understanding this remarkable civilization."

Historian Romila Thapar presided over the talk attended by many historians and professors of Delhi University.

Dr I H Qureshi, in whose name the lecture is instituted was the first teacher of history at DU. He was also a minister of education in Pakistan.

expressindia.
Contributor Bio for coldrum: Based in Milkyway, contributing since 2002. Favourite site: Avebury.

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"India: ‘Indus Valley civilization was more varied and wider’" | Login/Create an Account | 12 News and Comments
  
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Ornaments of Harappan era found in Kutch by coldrum on Sunday, 23 October 2011
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Ornaments of Harappan era found in Kutch

In a remarkable finding, officials of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) have recovered a number of artifacts belonging to Harappan era from Khirsara (Netra-Gadhwali) in Nakhatrana taluka of Kutch district during an ongoing excavation.

Jitendra Das, superintending archaeologist, excavation branch ASI Baroda, said: "At least two necklaces, resembling present-day gold ornaments, have been recovered beside other artifacts like stone toys, utensils, weighing stones etc. The ornaments are similar to those recovered from a Harappan site in Lothal, near Ahmedabad. The artifacts will be sent to laboratory for determining their age."

A fifteen-member team of ASI has been camping at the site for past 18 months with over sixty labourers deployed at the site. The excavation is being carried out on a ten-acre plot of land.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/Ornaments-of-Harappan-era-found-in-Kutch/articleshow/7225071.cms
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Naga heritage traced back to 50 B.C. by coldrum on Wednesday, 13 January 2010
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The radiocarbon dates of archaeological sites from New Phor, Movolomi and Khüsomi were recently received from the Beta Analytic in Miami, United States. The dates further ‘pushed back’ the antiquity of Naga ancestral sites as early as 50 BC, according to Dr. Anungla Aier and Dr. Tiatoshi Jamir of Anthropological Society of Nagaland.
The Beta Analytic Inc., an internationally renowned institute of physical and chemical sciences has been providing efficient technical assistance to the research since the early part of this year, a note from the two researchers said.
Dr. Anungla Aier and Dr. Tiatoshi Jamir stated in a letter received here today: “The calibrated dates assigned to the sites were as per scientifically accepted procedures using Calibration Database INTCAL 04 Radio Carbon Age Calibration. The sample from New Phor (Sample No.: N.PHR 08/TR1/Beta-265846) dated to Cal BC 50 – Cal AD 90 thus far, offers the earliest radiocarbon date for the Naga ancestral sites archaeologically investigated, while new radiocarbon dates for Khüsomi (Sample No.: KSI 09/TR2/Beta-265844) gives a date of Cal AD1320-1350 and Movolomi (Sample No.: MLI 09/TR1/Beta-265845) dated to Cal AD1420-1640.
All charcoal samples analyzed are reported from the lowest earth layers of the sites.”
It was further stated that the archaeological investigations carried out so far is part of a larger research project that has embarked on the analysis of the archaeological evidences side by side with the ‘folkloristic, ethnographic and anthropometric data.’ The Anthropological Society of Nagaland and the department of Art & Culture is making an effort to seriously engage in the scientific and objective study of the cultural history of the Nagas and these radiocarbon dates are significant not only for furthering our understanding of the cultural history and migration of the Nagas but will also provide insights to past social and cultural interactions between Naga communities. “In this endeavor, we solicit the continued cooperation of the various Naga communities as the work progresses,” the note said.

http://www.morungexpress.com/frontpage/40361.html
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Symbols akin to Indus valley culture found by coldrum on Friday, 02 October 2009
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A rock engraving, indicating clear remnants of Harappan culture, has been found in the Edakkal caves in neighbouring Wayanad district, linking the Indus Valley civilisation with South India.

"There had been indications of remnants akin to the Indus Valley civilisation in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, but these new findings give credence to the fact that the Harappan civilisation had its presence in the region too and could trace the history of Kerala even beyond the Iron Age," historian M R Raghava Varier said.

The unique symbols integral to the Indus Valley culture traced in Harappa and Mohanjedaro region that stretched upto Pakistan, were found inside the caves during recent excavations by the State Archaeological Department.

Of the identified 429 signs, "a man with jar cup", a symbol unique to the Indus civilisation and other compound letters testified to remnants of the Harappan culture, spanning from 2300 BC to 1700 BC, in South India, Varier, who led the excavation at the caves said.

The "man-with-the-jar" symbol, an integral remnant commonly traced in parts where the Indus Valley civilisation existed, has even more similarities than those traced in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, he said.

The 'man-with-the-jar' has been a distinct motif of the Indus valley symbols. The Edakkal engraving has retained its unique style as the engraver tried to attain a two-dimensional human figure, Varier said.

This could be attributed to the transformation from the distinct symbols of the Indus Valley civilisation that could have taken place in due course of time, he said.

The 'jar' is more or less same as those in Indus ligature. But the human figure is a little different. "These symbols form part of compound letters similar to scripts and no concerted efforts appear to have been made in the past to decipher them, with a lone exception by Iravatha Mahadevan (a scholar on the Indus valley civilisation), who could gather valuable ideas from such letters," he said.

"The discovery of the symbols are akin to that of the Harappan civilisation having predominantly Dravidian culture and testimony to the fact that cultural diffusion could take place. It is wrong to presume that the Indus culture disappeared into thin air," Varier said.

The symbols and pictographs found in the Edakkal cave were subjected to study for the first time in 1901 by Fawsette, a police official of the then Malabar district. Later, Varier, along with noted history scholar Rajan Gurukkal carried out further studies, which testified that the caves had remnants upto the Iron Age. The new findings could take the history of Edakkal and Kerala even beyond and throw more light into the culture of the region, Varier added.

http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/contentView.do?contentType=EDITORIAL&programId=1073750969&articleType=&contentId=6032010
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Indus Valley’s secrets to remain buried by coldrum on Wednesday, 01 July 2009
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Indus Valley’s secrets to remain buried

Indus Valley’s secrets to remain buried: Insecurity forces archaeologists to abandon excavations.


Foreign archaeologists involved in excavation work to explore the Indus Valley Civilisation in Pakistan have left the country due to the war-like situation.

The experts from the US, Europe and UK uncovered the mysteries of the Indus Valley Civilisation for the world during their research spanning decades. The teams, consisting of senior professors Dr Richard H Meadow, Professor JM Kenoyer, Dr Jean-Francois Jarrige and late Prof George F Dales, had conducted extensive research in different parts of Pakistan. A majority of the areas that were a part of the Indus Valley Civilisation became Pakistan after the partition of the sub-continent in 1947.

Sources in the Federal Archaeology Department told Daily Times that the experts were working despite the tense security situation in the region after 9/11, but had to leave the country after the increase in the wave of violence and terrorism, which led to the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

Final departure: “Their embassies were already warning them to be careful while working in the areas like Harappa, Mohenjodaro, Taxila, Mehrgarh and other areas in Pakistan, all of them finally left the country after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto,” an Archaeology Department official told Daily Times.

The Indus Valley Civilisation, dating back to 2,600BC, mainly covered the area that is now Pakistan, with its traces in neighbouring countries like India, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and China.

However, the sources said, the international experts were still keen on resuming the abandoned research work in the country, despite being worried about the security situation. They said the experts were wondering when, if ever, they would be able to resume their excavation.

The sources said the researcher had now been compelled to focus only on the parts of the Indus Valley Civilisation in the Indian state of Gujarat, especially in the city of Lothal. This has deprived Pakistan of a chance to promote its soft image in the world.

Prof Jonathan Mark Kenoyer, an internationally renowned authority on the Indus Valley, who had been researching in Harappa since 1986, told Daily Times that he spent a key part of his life working on the research work in Pakistan but was left with no other option but to leave the country after the assassination of Bhutto.

Kenoyer said he was likely to visit Pakistan in 2010, in order to resume his high-profile research, but said the return totally depended on the law and order in the country.

Federal Archaeology Department Northern Circle Director Salimul Haq told Daily Times that there was not a single foreigner working on any research or excavation project in the country.

He said the department tried its best to facilitate the researchers, but their own embassies were sceptical about their stay in Pakistan. He said the local archaeologists were trying to take over the research work.

Art historian Prof Dr Ajaz Anwar told Daily Times that local archaeologists lacked the expertise to continue the excavation work, as compared to experts from Harvard, Cambridge, Berkley and other globally acclaimed educational institutions.

Anwar said the foreign explorers had been responsible for the excavations and explorations, and the locals had made almost no contribution.

Anwar said the statue of the fasting Buddha, placed in the Lahore Museum, was damaged during its digging by the locals. He said the locals had stuck the broken arm of the statue with traditional cement, instead of using the appropriate material, despite the fact that it was damaging for the splendid piece of art.

Famous historian Prof Dr Mubarak Ali said the departure of international archaeologists was a great loss for the country and the government should try to convince and facilitate these people to come back to Pakistan.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009�629story_29-6-2009_pg13_5
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2,200-year-old pottery unearthed in Budhwar Peth by coldrum on Thursday, 18 June 2009
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2,200-year-old pottery unearthed in Budhwar Peth

The discovery confirms Pune's importance during the Satavahaan period between 200 BC and 250 AD

Pottery, some of it dating as far back as 200 BC, was uncovered during the foundation laying at a construction site in 723 Budhwar Peth yesterday. The discovery confirms Pune's importance during the Satavahaan period

Unearthed: The artifacts that were found at the site will be handed over to Pune's museums
(200 BC - 250 AD).

Paduranga Balkawade, a historian closely working with archeologists of Deccan College in Pune, said, "The pieces of pottery found here are often referred to as black and red pottery and black polished ware. Remains of a big plate, small water container as well as pieces of big urn mainly used to hoard grain have been unearthed. One pot, which has a spout, is an example of the advanced pottery skills of the ancient artisans who made it 1,000 years ago."

Balkawade added "Nine layers marking nine different eras of civilisation have been unearthed from the archeological mount at the site. The uppermost layer belonged to the 18th century, while the lowest dates to 100 BC."

He said, "Clearly, Pune was an important trade link between major cities like Junnar, Pratisthan (Paithan, the ancient capital of Satavahanas) to the ports n the Konkan region like Champavati or Chaul, Revati (also called Revasm), Nalasopara, Kalyan, Nagothane and Rajpuri."

Balkawade added, "As many important trade routes culminated at Pune, it enjoyed the status of being an important commercial hub during this period, when trade links were developed with the other civilisations in China, Mesopotamia, Rome and Greece." The artifacts found at the site will soon be handed over to Pune's museums.

History that was unearthed in Pune
In November last year, 847 coins were found at a construction site, of which 34 were gold mohars, dating back to the time of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. The remaining 813 were Venetian ducats, which were used between the 13th and 18th century
1974: 1,519 sliver coins from the 2nd to 4th century AD were found at Rajangaon
1945: 460 silver and copper alloy coins dating back to the 12th century were discovered at Urali Kanchan

http://www.mid-day.com/news/2009/may/250509-Pune-News-2200-year-old-pottery-unearthed-Budhwar-Peth-Satavahaan-period-Archeologist.htm
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A Skeleton 4,000 Years Old Bears Evidence of Leprosy by coldrum on Wednesday, 17 June 2009
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The oldest known skeleton showing signs of leprosy has been found in India and may help solve the puzzle of where the disease originated.

The skeleton, about 4,000 years old, was found at the site of Balathal, near Udaipur in northwestern India. Historians have long considered the Indian subcontinent to be the source of the leprosy that was first reported in Europe in the fourth century B.C., shortly after the armies of Alexander the Great returned from India.

The skeleton is described in the journal PLoS One by Gwen Robbins, an anthropologist at Appalachian State University, and colleagues in India. The authors say the skull shows signs of erosion typical of leprosy.

The authors say their find confirms that a passage in the Atharva Veda, a set of Sanskrit hymns written around 1550 B.C., indeed refers to leprosy, a reading that had been doubted because until now the oldest accepted written accounts of the disease were from the sixth century B.C.

The bacterium that causes...

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Indus Valley code is cracked - maybe by coldrum on Wednesday, 17 June 2009
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Indus Valley code is cracked - maybe

A 4,500-year-old mystery has been revived, with Indian-American scientists claiming on April 23 that the puzzling symbols that were found on Indus Valley seals are indeed the written script of a language from an ancient civilization.

But skeptics, such as historian Steve Farmer and Harvard University Indologist Michael Witzel, say that claims of the Indus Valley civilization having a written language, and therefore a literate culture, are generally created by pseudo-nationalists from India, Hindu chauvinists and right-wing political frauds who wish to glorify the existence of an ancient Hindu civilization.

The civilization on the banks of the 2,900-kilometer long Indus, one of the world's great rivers with a water volume twice that of the Nile, is said to have flourished between 2600 BC to 1900 BC.

Unlike its river valley contemporaries in ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia and China, very little is known about the Indus Valley civilization,...

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Bangladeshi artifacts reveal 2,500 year old craftsmanship by coldrum on Wednesday, 21 May 2008
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Bangladeshi artifacts reveal 2,500 year old craftsmanship

he discovery of a few semi-precious stone beads with motifs at the Wari-Bateshwar archaeological site in Bangladesh, has indicated that the spot was a rich trade centre, with its people having a history of craftsmanship as old as around 2,500 years.




According to a report in the Daily Star, some of the semi-precious stone beads found and unearthed from Wari-Bateshwar are even identical to the artifacts found in Southeast Asia and other parts in the Indian subcontinent.

This suggests that this area is one of the second earliest urbanisation sites in the subcontinent.

Archaeologists have observed that abundance of beads as found over the years, their varieties, uniqueness of designs, and technical excellence in producing those subsequently lead to assume that the beads were produced locally and there was a rich production centre or industry there.

"Production of beads of such qualities requires the finest...

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Wari-Bateshwar one of earliest kingdoms by coldrum on Tuesday, 20 May 2008
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Wari-Bateshwar one of earliest kingdoms

The discovery of silver punch-marked coins of the pre-Mauryan period dating back to 600 BC to 400 BC in Wari-Bateshwar reveals that the place was a Mahajanapada, one of the earliest kingdoms or states in the Indian subcontinent.

The silver coins and artefacts unearthed and collected so far and geographical positioning of the place both are apparently leading archaeologists to an astonishing discovery.

Wari-Bateshwar could be a part of Gangaridae, which was described as a rich place of trade in the estuary of the river Ganges in Greek and Latin literature and was also mentioned by Ptolemy, Virgil, Strabo, Deodorus, Kartius and Plutarch, archaeologists claim.

The punch-marked coins are of two series –Janapada, a coin series used during pre-Mauryan period dating back to 600 BC to 400 BC when 16 Mahajanapadas were flourished in the Indian subcontinent, and Imperial, another series used during Mauryan period dating back to 400 BC to 200...

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4,000-year-old site found in India by coldrum on Wednesday, 17 October 2007
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4,000-year-old site found in India

It is said that discoveries just happen, you don’t plan them. So is the case here with the State Archaeology Department. It is now planning to dig up a 4,000-year-old civilisation buried in Udaipurwa village in Auraiya district.

It was literally by chance that a rural acrobat while walking in the fields stumbled upon some metallic objects lying on the ground. Curiosity prompted him to dig the spot that revealed a hoard of copper artefacts. Realising the value of the stuff, he quickly collected them and left the spot in a hush without informing anyone.

But luck did not favour him as some villagers noticed his activities and informed the local police. Police immediately swung into action and raided his hideout. Police seized the articles and kept it in the store of the Bidhuna police station.

Additional District Magistrate of Auraiya realised that the articles seized by the police was of historical importance and he informed that Rakesh...

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ASI to explore extension of Harappan culture by coldrum on Wednesday, 25 July 2007
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In its bid to throw more light on the Harappan civilization, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has started excavating about a dozen sites in Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat.

"We have undertaken the excavation of some selected places in the five states to know the extension of Harappan culture and establish a common link between them," ASI Director (excavation and exploration) R S Fonia said.

"Though many excavations were carried out in the past, this is for the first time that an attempt has been made to unearth a complete Harappan scenario in the country by correlating the findings at these places."

Sanauli in Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh is under excavation by the ASI. "The site was a chance discovery while locals undertook levelling work for farming purposes. It has been identified as a prominent site of late Harappan period," said Fonia.

"Excavations have unearthed more than 100 burial sites with vases, bowls and swords. Jewellery including bangles and...

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Ruins identical to Mohenjodaro, Harappa possibly exist in Pakistan by coldrum on Tuesday, 22 May 2007
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Ruins identical to Mohenjodaro, Harappa possibly exist in Pakistan

A team of American, Pakistani and Japanese archaeologists has claimed the discovery of rare objects in the Cholistan Desert, raising hopes of the presence of ruins identical to the civilisations of Mohenjodaro and Harappa.

Archaeologists from Wisconsin, the Research Institute of Humanities and Nature, Tokyo and the Department of Archaeology, Punjab University, say they have discovered a rare copper seal, a terracotta block, three wedge-shaped bricks, pottery with distinct potter marks and four unicorns from the dried-out channel of the Hakra river.

Punjab University Archaeology Department Chairman Dr Farzand Masih is leading the team, reports the Dawn.

Talking to the Dawn, Dr. Masih said that the copper seal dates back to 2000-2500 B.C., and added that the study of the seal would hopefully reveal interesting features.

"This is the first time that a copper seal has been found in Cholistan, whereas the...

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