Discovering the Harappan Civilization
The discovery of the Harappan civilization by archaeologists involved a gradual process of recognition and understanding. Initially, when Harappan cities fell into ruin, people forgot about them, and later generations encountered strange artifacts occasionally unearthed by natural processes like floods, erosion, or agricultural activities.
The first Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Cunningham, conducted excavations in the mid-nineteenth century. However, his focus was primarily on the archaeology of later periods, and he overlooked the significance of Harappan artifacts. Cunningham’s interest lay in the archaeology of the Early Historic period, and he relied heavily on written accounts, particularly those of Chinese Buddhist pilgrims, to guide his investigations. Consequently, he failed to recognize the antiquity of Harappan artifacts and misinterpreted them within the context of his own framework.
It was not until the early twentieth century that archaeologists like Daya Ram Sahni and Rakhal Das Banerji unearthed Harappan seals in layers much older than those of the Early Historic period. This realization led to the recognition of a new ancient civilization in the Indus Valley. In 1924, John Marshall, then Director-General of the ASI, officially announced the discovery of this civilization to the world. Marshall’s approach differed from Cunningham’s in that he was more interested in understanding the everyday life of ancient people. However, Marshall’s excavation methods, which focused on uniform horizontal units, led to the loss of valuable contextual information.
It was R.E.M. Wheeler, who succeeded Marshall as Director-General in 1944, who rectified this issue by emphasizing the importance of following the stratigraphy of archaeological sites. Wheeler introduced military precision to archaeological practices and emphasized the need for systematic excavation methods.
Since then, Harappan archaeology has seen significant advancements, with Indian and international specialists collaborating on excavations and employing modern scientific techniques to analyze artifacts and environmental remains. Ongoing explorations promise to shed further light on the complexities of the Harappan civilization in the future.
Chapter 1: Bricks,Beads and Bones| Class 12 Notes History
Crafted from a stone called steatite, Harappan seals typically feature animal motifs and symbols from a script that has yet to be deciphered. Despite the mystery surrounding the script, archaeologists have gleaned significant insights into the lives of the people inhabiting the region through the examination of their dwellings, pottery, jewelry, tools, and seals – collectively known as archaeological evidence.
This evidence serves as a window into the Harappan civilization, shedding light on various aspects of their society. However, while archaeological findings provide valuable insights, interpretations of these discoveries are subject to change as new evidence emerges. Although there are still unknown aspects of the civilization that may remain elusive, ongoing research continues to deepen our understanding of the Harappan civilization!