“The Ancient City of Harappa”
Brief Introduction
Pakistan is endowed with a large number of ancient sites and
historical assets which are linked with our tremendous past.
Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro are the two major sites of the Indus
Valley Civilization. Harappa is the earliest discovered type of site of Indus
Valley Civilization, which is also known as the Harappan civilization, named
after the living city of Harappa.
This remarkable civilization flourished in the vast plains of
the Indus River and its tributaries including the dried bed of the Hakra River
in the Cholistan. So it was also called the Indus Valley Civilization.
Harappa was one of the largest cities of the Indus Valley,
the Harappan Civilization dating from 3500BC to 1500BC, where a civilized
society used to live about five thousand years ago. Harappa was the Metropolis
of the South Asia from 2600BC to 1900BC.
Location:
The archeologists site of Harappa is situated at the left
side of old course of the river Ravi, 27Kms, northwest of the Sahiwal city and
about 7Km, Northwest of Harappa Railway station! This site is about 200Km away
from Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
Nomenclature:
Different opinions exist about the name of this ancient city
which is as under:
1.
The ancient name was “Hari-Youpia” which is mentioned
in the Rig-Veda as the legendary scene of the victory of the Aryans over the
Non-Aryans. The ancient name was later on changed to “Harappa”.
2.
“Harap” is a Punjabi word that means “swallow or
engulf”. Since the deluge engulfed the area owing to the presence of the river
Ravi brink near the site, it was called Harappa which also has some connection
with the Punjabi word “Har” meaning flood.
3.
Harappa was completely destroyed by a flood of the
River area as a punishment to the wicked Raja “Harpal” of the transformation of
“Harpal”.
The Discovery and Excavations
The first visit of ancient ruins at Harappa was reported by James Lewis (Charles Masson), the British Army Personnel in 1826. Mr. A Burnas visited of the mounds in 1831.
Alexander Cunningham, a famous archeologist, visited this site twice, in 1853 and 1856. He discovered the remains of the city, pottery, stone tools and seals. He named it Harappa after the living city, situated at one corner of the mounded ruins.
Before the site was declared protected, the mounds had long been the source of brick ballast for about 160Km of the Lahore-Multan railway line as well as a ready means of brick for the construction of the houses for local people. Due to heavy brick robbing the upper layer of the mounds was destroyed.
About this destruction, M .S. Vats says “I made several excavations at Harappa but the whole surface had been so cleared out by the railway contractors that I found very little worth preserving”.
After a long time, the Harappan, site was declared protected in 1920, and excavation was started by Daya Ram Sahni. It was at Harappa that Pakistan’s oldest civilization was first discovered and recognized in 1921. The next year another site Mohenjodaro, was excavated by R. D. Banerji.
The great discovery of the Harappan Civilization / Indus Valley Civilization was first announced in “Illustrated London News” in 1924 in an article published by the then Director General, Sir John Marshall.
Extent of the Harappan Civilization
The Harappan civilization existed in the area of Pakistan and parts of Southeastern Afghanistan, Eastern Iran, and Northwest India.
Geographical Expansion
The remains of this biggest world civilization are scattered from the foothills of the Himalayas to the Arabian Sea some parts of western India, and Afghanistan.
The total geographical covered area of the Harappan Civilization is about 6, 80,000 sq.km.
Discovered Area
About 2000 sites have been identified, of which nearly 400 sites in Pakistan have been discovered.
Major Urban Centers/ Metropolitan Cities
There were five major urban centers such as Harappa, Ganweriwala and Mohenjo-Daro, in Pakistan, and Dholavira and Rakhigarhi in India.
Important Remains and Artifacts
Though there are neither carved temples nor opulent royal tombs here, the remains of Harappa, about 5000 years old, are important, interesting, and fascinating to the civilized people of the modern world.
Excavations at Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro, and other sites since 1921 have brought to light the richness and sophistication of this civilization is evident from the remains of well-planned cities, towns, and settlements. Harappa was an outstanding well-planned city. Every house was built with well-baked bricks and connected to an elaborate drainage system below the streets. Rooms in houses were airy.
A fortification wall was also present around the ancient Harappa to ensure protection as well as an effective control on exit and entrance to the city. The people dug wells to get drinking water. They had small furnaces/kilns where gold, iron, copper, and other metals were melted. Brick kilns and Granary were also present.
The artifacts including the jewelry of gold, semi-precious stones, standardized cubical weights and measures, some sculptures made of stones and bronze have also been found. Copper and bronze were used for weapons and implements. Valuable goods like carnelian and agate beads were carefully weighed with cubical weights. Local potters used to barter their wares for their grains.
Architectural and Urban Planning
The city of Harappa exemplifies the
advanced urban planning of the Indus Valley Civilization. Excavations
reveal a well-organized layout featuring a grid pattern of streets,
standardized fired-brick structures, and sophisticated drainage systems.
Residential and public buildings were strategically
placed, indicating a high level of civic planning and social organization.
The presence of granaries, workshops, and marketplaces
suggests a thriving economy supported by agriculture, craftsmanship, and trade.
Cultural
and Technological Achievements
Harappans demonstrated remarkable
advancements in various fields. They developed a system of standardized
weights and measures, facilitating trade and economic transactions. Artifacts such as seals, pottery, and tools exhibit intricate
designs and craftsmanship, reflecting a rich cultural heritage. The discovery of symbols resembling script on seals and tablets
indicates the existence of a form of writing, though it remains undeciphered.
Legacy
and Modern Significance
Today, the ancient city of Harappa
stands as a testament to the ingenuity and resilience of early urban societies. Its ruins offer
invaluable insights into the social, economic, and cultural dynamics of the
Indus Valley Civilization. Ongoing archaeological
research continues to uncover new facets of Harappan life, contributing to our
understanding of human history. The site's
preservation and study not only honor the legacy of a remarkable civilization
but also inspire contemporary urban development and cultural appreciation.