Ahmedabad:

A necropolis with over 500 graves in Gujarat’s Kutch, first unearthed in 2018, has led a workforce of archaeologists to an enchanting discovery – a Harappan-era settlement going again greater than 5,000 years in the past.

Dr Subhash Bhandari, head of archaeology division At Krantiguru Shyamji Krishna Verma Kachchh College, stated that the 2018 excavation of the necropolis close to Juna Khatiya village had thrown up some key questions. “It was vital to seek out out the place these individuals stayed. This was a significant query and we had been in search of the reply,” he stated.

This search took the workforce of archaeologists to Padta Wager – about 1.5 km from the burial web site. “We’ve got discovered a settlement on a hillock about 200 m x 200 m in dimension. A river flowed behind the hillock as soon as. Throughout our excavation on the web site, we discovered spherical in addition to rectangular buildings the place individuals stayed. We’ve got additionally discovered pots, massive and small, and dishes,” he stated.

Dr Bhandari stated the workforce additionally discovered semi-precious stones corresponding to carnelian and agate, shell fragments and hammer stones on the web site. “We are able to say that this settlement web site is round 5,700 years outdated,” he stated, including that the settlement seems to have been populated from the early Harappan to the late Harappan period.

The workforce, he stated, has additionally discovered stays of cows and goats. “We are able to say that the settlers right here had been concerned in animal husbandry,” he stated, including that they’ve additionally discovered stays of a human skeleton.

Rajesh SV, assistant professor with College of Kerala and co-director of this venture, informed The Indian Specific, “The hillock at Padta Wager could also be one of many websites catering to the skeletal stays (within the burial floor) discovered at Juna Khatiya. Proper now it means that this was one of many many settlements whose burial web site was Juna Khatiya.”

At Padta Wager, the researchers have recognized two localities with archaeological deposits. Professor Abhayan GS, HOD of Archaeology at College of Kerala, who led the excavation at Padta Wager, stated it’s attainable that inhabitants progress led to individuals spreading out from one locality to the opposite. The opposite speculation is that they had been inhabited throughout completely different durations.

On why the positioning of settlement has few buildings, Professor Abhayan stated, “This web site is on a hillock, so the panorama is unstable. This might have led to the collapse of many buildings over time.”

The placement of the Padta Wager web site, he stated, was crucial. “You possibly can see the encompassing mountains and valley from right here. The river flowing close by might have been the principle supply of water for these dwelling right here.”

Dr Bhandari stated they’re now specializing in unearthing extra in regards to the hyperlink between the burial web site and the settlement. “We are going to attempt to discover out extra in regards to the individuals who lived there. This web site is on a hillock, in order that they obtained a transparent view of the environment. We are going to attempt to discover out whether or not that was from a strategic perspective or as a result of availability of water close by. We may even attempt to discover out their meals habits. We’ve got discovered stones, so we are going to discover if their occupation was largely pastoral or they had been additionally into commerce,” he stated.

The establishments concerned within the venture embody College of Kerala, Kachchh College, Pune’s Deccan School, Central College of Karnataka, three Spanish institutes – Catalan Institute of Classical Archaeology, Spanish Nationwide Analysis Council, and College of La Laguna, Albion School and Texas A&M College within the US.