Ancient History

Recently, UN agency has declared the Harappan town of Dholavira in Gujarat as India’s forty world heritage website. its the primary website of Indus natural depression Civilisation (IVC) in India to be enclosed on the UN agency list.

About Dholavira:

·        It was discovered in 1968 by archaeologist Jagat Pati Joshi.

·        It is one of the most remarkable and well-preserved urban settlements in South Asia.

·        The ancient city of Dholavira is an archaeological site at Kachchh District, in the state of Gujarat, which dates from the 3 to mid-2 millennium BCE.

·        It is located on Khadir Bet Island in the Kachchh Desert Wildlife Sanctuaryin the Great Rann of Kachchh. Dholavira’s location is on the Tropic of Cancer.

·        Unlike other Harappan antecedent towns normally located near to rivers and perennial sources of water, the placement of Dholavira within the island of Khadir bet.

·        This expedited internal in addition as external trade to the Magan (modern Sultanate of Oman peninsula) and Mesopotamian regions.

·        After Mohen-jo-Daro, Harappa,Rakhigarhi, Ganweriwala, Dholavira is that the fifth largest metropolis of the Indus vale Civilization (IVC).

·        The website contains a walled town, a castle, a ceremonial ground (cemetery), 2 seasonal streams and homes of various classes indicating a social hierarchy.

·        The 3 stage settlement in Dholavira (citadel- middle city & lower town) was designed for various classes of residents and functions.

·        There was a castle for a vital person, whereas the center city housed wealthy merchants and generals and also the lower city was for the folk.

·        A series of reservoirs square measure found to the east and south of the stronghold. Dholavira consists of associate economical water management system with a cascading system of reservoirs.

Archeological Findings:

·        Artifacts that were found here include terracotta pottery, beads, gold and copper ornaments, seals, fish hooks, animal figurines, tools, urns, and some imported vessels.

·        Remains of a copper smelter indicate Harappans, who lived in Dholavira, knew metallurgy.

·        It was conjointly a hub of producing jewelry product of shells and semi-precious stones, like chalcedony and wont to export timber. not like graves at different IVC sites, no mortal remains of humans are discovered at Dholavira.

·        Nine gates with distinctive styles together with a north gate that had a signboard, a primary of its kind found at Harappan web site.

·        Funerary design that includes mound — subfigure structures just like the Buddhist Stupas.

·        Decline of Dholavira: Dholavira entered a part of severe aridity because of global climate change and rivers like Saraswati desiccation.

·        Due to a drought-like state of affairs, folks started migrating towards the Ganges River depression or towards south Gujarat and more on the far side in geographic region.