' Happy New Year 2019 🎊 '
'Harappan Civilization'
These photographs are of English/Urdu commemorative boards and four thousand five hundred years old preserved Archeological remains of ancient Sindh Valley Civilization site at Harappa District Sahiwal, Punjab, Pakistan. It is mentioned in the books entitled 'Finding Forgotten Cities' by Nayanjot Lahiri and 'The Discovery of Ancient India' by Upinder Singh, daughter of S. Manmohan Singh that Major General Sir Alexander C. Cunningham made first reference to the site and the legend about it in the year 1872-73. It was excavated about half a century later by British Archeologist Sir John Marshall, the then Director General of Archeological Survey of India. He announced the discovery to the world in 1924. Mr. Madho Sarup Vats and Rai Bhadur Daya Ram Sahani were the Archeologists who excavated different sites at Harappa Archeological Site. The Harappan bricks were used by the contractors in building Lahore - Multan railway track during British Rule and this results huge destruction of Harappan Archeological site. The site of Harappan ruins is a great proof that the land of Punjab had been a civilized civilization for thousands years ago and the people of Punjab were aware of the art of living together cooperating one another.
First commemorative board speaks as:
' Harappa'
Some four thousand five hundred years ago, a remarkable civilization existed in the vast plain of river Indus and its tributaries, including the dried bed of Hakra River in Cholistan and adjoining territories. It dominated appropriate area 425000 square miles from the foothill of Hamaliya to the Arabian sea. This civilization is contemporary with the civilization of Nile and Mesopotamia. Among hundreds of ancient settlements bearing imprints of civilization. Harappa and Mohenjodaro were two important urban centers. A series of Archeological excavations at Harappa, Mohenjodaro and other sites since 1921 have brought to light remains of systematically planned cities, towns and settlements that present an outstanding example of well organized civic life. The wide straight roads, well planned houses with elaborate underground system of drainage are still a model for present day town planners. Such excavation revealed an amazing story of the customs, arts and crafts, social system and economic life of the people who inhabited it. Remains of this civilization revealed at Harappa are still important and interesting. Digging below the fortification wall revealed an earlier phase of this culture called the Koy Digi culture. At the north end of 'Mound AB' an even earlier Ravi-Hakra phase occupation dating to 3900 to 2900 B. C have been found. '
It is mentioned on Second commemorative metal plate erected by Environmental Research Centre GC University, Lahore:
' Remnants of Rakh Forest'
Harappa the site of great Archeological interest (Indus Civilization) has a cover of indigenous thorn forest vegetation or the Rakhs comprising of Salvador oleoides (Wan, Jal), Tamarix aphylla (Frash, Phalwan), Prosopis cineraria (jund) and Capparis decidua (Kareer). Hundreds year ago, Rakhs formed one of the most remarkable landscape of the Punjab plains in Pakistan and were the main source of firewood supplies, fodder and provided famine food for populations. They also contributed the stability of fragile areas and supported to thriving wildlife. Extention of canal irrigation, promotion of fast growing species and the increasing trend towards waterlogging salinity and desertification led to the rapid disappearance of the original vegetation, of which only 2% are now surviving. Hundreds of trees, ranging in the age group of hundred years and above, are still surviving with plenty of regeneration on Harappa mound. It presents an accessable protected area which can serve as a living class room,, a museum, a laboratory for field study and an insitu genebank for conservation and thus serves the purpose of a Botanic Garden of indigenous species. The endengered plant community being used demonstrating its Biological values at Harappa is in fact the fragmentary remains of an original breeding gene pool which has been anthropogenically reduced. As remaining natural habitats have vanished the gene pool value of this patch has increased immensely. Recently a tripartite MOU signed Archeological Department, GC University Lahore and WWF-Pakistan. It is based on fairly simple objectives to maintain the relict Flora and to protect, promote and propagate the natural forest. As visitors traverse the track they will come across the sign boards illustrating Biological values of species. It is hoped that this novel theme would certainly create public interest, motivation and involvement in the conservation role of such a site.
Project Executants
Rehabilitation of Natural Forest project
Environmental Research Centre
GC University, Lahore. '
Third commemorative board describes at Late Harappan Cemetery Area "H" in this way :
'Late Harappan Cemetery Area "H"
This area was excavated by Madho Sarup Vats from 1926 to 1934. This area of the site revealed an extensive Cemetery of people who lived in Harappa during the final period of the Indus Civilization sometime after 1900 B. C. Commonly referred to as the Cemetery "H" culture, these people had a distinctive pottery characterized by elaborate painted Motifs and unique shapes. Excavation in this Cemetery revealed two distinct levels of burials. In the upper levels the burial consisted of large painted jars in which skulls and bones of individuals were placed.
The fragmentary and incomplete nature of the bones in each pot indicates that the corpse had been exposed to the elements and later the bones were collected and deposited in the burial jars. Smaller vessels that may have contained Offspring for the deads were placed around the large jar. In the lower levels burials were made in graves oriented in different directions most commonly with the heads to East and feet to west. These burials were made in rectangular pits and various quantities of pottery vessels were buried along with the deceased. These vessels were probably filled with Offsprings of food and drink. All of the Cemetery "H" burials were dug into a thick layer debris that covered the ancient land surface to the south underneath this debris layer the Cemetery of Harappan culture. '
Fourth commemorative board tells about Mound A. B Central Area:
'Mound A. B Central Area
The high level of this mound is the result of continuous rebuilding by the inhabitants of the city. In this area, the large cover wall situated is actually part of what may have been a drain during the final phase of the Harappa occupation around 2200 to 1900 B. C. In the lower levels there is a large double ring well and bathing platforms that belong to the early period. This may have been a public well associated with a bathing and washing area. Unlike Mohenjodaro where there are discovered numerous wells in each neighborhood, as yet only eight wells have been discovered at Harappa. Some of them were private and some of them were public wells. Much of top structures were robbed by the contractors who built the Lahore Multan railway track during British Rule. The lower structures were destroyed by the Harappan inhabitants to reconstruct their houses. The Archeological excavation were conducted here by Rai Bhadur Daya Ram Sahani and Madho Sarup Vats during 1921 to 1924 and 1926 to 1934.'
Fifth commemorative board shouts about Mound "AB" Southern Area:
'Mound "AB" Southern Area
Mound "AB" is large walled mound that measures about 450 meters north - south and some 244 meters east - west. The details of the mud bricks city wall can be seen further along in a deep trench along the western edge of the mound. This area of Mound "AB" lies inside the Southern edge of the massive mud bricks city wall that surrounds the highest part of the city. Most of the houses found in the area were made of mud bricks and baked bricks and have been reburied to protect them from decay. The seals and inscribed objects from the very lowest level can be compared with similar objects from mound "F" to the North. The pottery and terracotta figures also appear to date this area to the middle of Harappan period. Excavations in this area were undertaken by Madho Sarup Vats from 1926 to 1934. '
Sixth commemorative board mentioned useful information about
Mound "AB" Citadal Area in this way :
'Mound "AB" Citadal Area'
The area of Mound "AB" reveals a large east-west street with a drain that was covered with bricks exactly as is seen in the modern construction. Several sumps pits were located along the drain to collect solid waste that were then cleaned out by sweepers. To the south and north of the street are neighborhoods connected with small lanes. Some of the houses have bathing platforms and drains leading to the main city drain. The important finds from this part of the site include seals and inscribed tablets, one of which depicts a drummer and a tiger. This area may date to around 2200 B.C. On the basis of ceramic comparison and carbon 14 dating from other parts of the city. Most of the upper structures were robbed of their bricks by the contractors who built the Lahore Multan railway Line. The lower levels were robbed by the Harappans themselves as they remodeled and rebuilt their neighborhood. Excavation in this area were conducted by Rai Bhadur Daya Ram Sahani and Madho Sarup Vats between 1921 to 1934. '
Photographs By Ali Babar
'Harappan Civilization'
These photographs are of English/Urdu commemorative boards and four thousand five hundred years old preserved Archeological remains of ancient Sindh Valley Civilization site at Harappa District Sahiwal, Punjab, Pakistan. It is mentioned in the books entitled 'Finding Forgotten Cities' by Nayanjot Lahiri and 'The Discovery of Ancient India' by Upinder Singh, daughter of S. Manmohan Singh that Major General Sir Alexander C. Cunningham made first reference to the site and the legend about it in the year 1872-73. It was excavated about half a century later by British Archeologist Sir John Marshall, the then Director General of Archeological Survey of India. He announced the discovery to the world in 1924. Mr. Madho Sarup Vats and Rai Bhadur Daya Ram Sahani were the Archeologists who excavated different sites at Harappa Archeological Site. The Harappan bricks were used by the contractors in building Lahore - Multan railway track during British Rule and this results huge destruction of Harappan Archeological site. The site of Harappan ruins is a great proof that the land of Punjab had been a civilized civilization for thousands years ago and the people of Punjab were aware of the art of living together cooperating one another.
First commemorative board speaks as:
' Harappa'
Some four thousand five hundred years ago, a remarkable civilization existed in the vast plain of river Indus and its tributaries, including the dried bed of Hakra River in Cholistan and adjoining territories. It dominated appropriate area 425000 square miles from the foothill of Hamaliya to the Arabian sea. This civilization is contemporary with the civilization of Nile and Mesopotamia. Among hundreds of ancient settlements bearing imprints of civilization. Harappa and Mohenjodaro were two important urban centers. A series of Archeological excavations at Harappa, Mohenjodaro and other sites since 1921 have brought to light remains of systematically planned cities, towns and settlements that present an outstanding example of well organized civic life. The wide straight roads, well planned houses with elaborate underground system of drainage are still a model for present day town planners. Such excavation revealed an amazing story of the customs, arts and crafts, social system and economic life of the people who inhabited it. Remains of this civilization revealed at Harappa are still important and interesting. Digging below the fortification wall revealed an earlier phase of this culture called the Koy Digi culture. At the north end of 'Mound AB' an even earlier Ravi-Hakra phase occupation dating to 3900 to 2900 B. C have been found. '
It is mentioned on Second commemorative metal plate erected by Environmental Research Centre GC University, Lahore:
' Remnants of Rakh Forest'
Harappa the site of great Archeological interest (Indus Civilization) has a cover of indigenous thorn forest vegetation or the Rakhs comprising of Salvador oleoides (Wan, Jal), Tamarix aphylla (Frash, Phalwan), Prosopis cineraria (jund) and Capparis decidua (Kareer). Hundreds year ago, Rakhs formed one of the most remarkable landscape of the Punjab plains in Pakistan and were the main source of firewood supplies, fodder and provided famine food for populations. They also contributed the stability of fragile areas and supported to thriving wildlife. Extention of canal irrigation, promotion of fast growing species and the increasing trend towards waterlogging salinity and desertification led to the rapid disappearance of the original vegetation, of which only 2% are now surviving. Hundreds of trees, ranging in the age group of hundred years and above, are still surviving with plenty of regeneration on Harappa mound. It presents an accessable protected area which can serve as a living class room,, a museum, a laboratory for field study and an insitu genebank for conservation and thus serves the purpose of a Botanic Garden of indigenous species. The endengered plant community being used demonstrating its Biological values at Harappa is in fact the fragmentary remains of an original breeding gene pool which has been anthropogenically reduced. As remaining natural habitats have vanished the gene pool value of this patch has increased immensely. Recently a tripartite MOU signed Archeological Department, GC University Lahore and WWF-Pakistan. It is based on fairly simple objectives to maintain the relict Flora and to protect, promote and propagate the natural forest. As visitors traverse the track they will come across the sign boards illustrating Biological values of species. It is hoped that this novel theme would certainly create public interest, motivation and involvement in the conservation role of such a site.
Project Executants
Rehabilitation of Natural Forest project
Environmental Research Centre
GC University, Lahore. '
Third commemorative board describes at Late Harappan Cemetery Area "H" in this way :
'Late Harappan Cemetery Area "H"
This area was excavated by Madho Sarup Vats from 1926 to 1934. This area of the site revealed an extensive Cemetery of people who lived in Harappa during the final period of the Indus Civilization sometime after 1900 B. C. Commonly referred to as the Cemetery "H" culture, these people had a distinctive pottery characterized by elaborate painted Motifs and unique shapes. Excavation in this Cemetery revealed two distinct levels of burials. In the upper levels the burial consisted of large painted jars in which skulls and bones of individuals were placed.
The fragmentary and incomplete nature of the bones in each pot indicates that the corpse had been exposed to the elements and later the bones were collected and deposited in the burial jars. Smaller vessels that may have contained Offspring for the deads were placed around the large jar. In the lower levels burials were made in graves oriented in different directions most commonly with the heads to East and feet to west. These burials were made in rectangular pits and various quantities of pottery vessels were buried along with the deceased. These vessels were probably filled with Offsprings of food and drink. All of the Cemetery "H" burials were dug into a thick layer debris that covered the ancient land surface to the south underneath this debris layer the Cemetery of Harappan culture. '
Fourth commemorative board tells about Mound A. B Central Area:
'Mound A. B Central Area
The high level of this mound is the result of continuous rebuilding by the inhabitants of the city. In this area, the large cover wall situated is actually part of what may have been a drain during the final phase of the Harappa occupation around 2200 to 1900 B. C. In the lower levels there is a large double ring well and bathing platforms that belong to the early period. This may have been a public well associated with a bathing and washing area. Unlike Mohenjodaro where there are discovered numerous wells in each neighborhood, as yet only eight wells have been discovered at Harappa. Some of them were private and some of them were public wells. Much of top structures were robbed by the contractors who built the Lahore Multan railway track during British Rule. The lower structures were destroyed by the Harappan inhabitants to reconstruct their houses. The Archeological excavation were conducted here by Rai Bhadur Daya Ram Sahani and Madho Sarup Vats during 1921 to 1924 and 1926 to 1934.'
Fifth commemorative board shouts about Mound "AB" Southern Area:
'Mound "AB" Southern Area
Mound "AB" is large walled mound that measures about 450 meters north - south and some 244 meters east - west. The details of the mud bricks city wall can be seen further along in a deep trench along the western edge of the mound. This area of Mound "AB" lies inside the Southern edge of the massive mud bricks city wall that surrounds the highest part of the city. Most of the houses found in the area were made of mud bricks and baked bricks and have been reburied to protect them from decay. The seals and inscribed objects from the very lowest level can be compared with similar objects from mound "F" to the North. The pottery and terracotta figures also appear to date this area to the middle of Harappan period. Excavations in this area were undertaken by Madho Sarup Vats from 1926 to 1934. '
Sixth commemorative board mentioned useful information about
Mound "AB" Citadal Area in this way :
'Mound "AB" Citadal Area'
The area of Mound "AB" reveals a large east-west street with a drain that was covered with bricks exactly as is seen in the modern construction. Several sumps pits were located along the drain to collect solid waste that were then cleaned out by sweepers. To the south and north of the street are neighborhoods connected with small lanes. Some of the houses have bathing platforms and drains leading to the main city drain. The important finds from this part of the site include seals and inscribed tablets, one of which depicts a drummer and a tiger. This area may date to around 2200 B.C. On the basis of ceramic comparison and carbon 14 dating from other parts of the city. Most of the upper structures were robbed of their bricks by the contractors who built the Lahore Multan railway Line. The lower levels were robbed by the Harappans themselves as they remodeled and rebuilt their neighborhood. Excavation in this area were conducted by Rai Bhadur Daya Ram Sahani and Madho Sarup Vats between 1921 to 1934. '
Photographs By Ali Babar
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