1. The document summarizes archaeological research and planning at the large Harappan site of Rakhigarhi in Haryana, India. 2. Joint work has been conducted between Deccan College and the Haryana government to study the site's cultural sequence and distribution of activities from the Early and Mature Harappan periods. 3. Future plans include preserving excavated structures, further excavations to understand settlement patterns, and developing an on-site museum and conservation labs while ensuring community participation.

1. Archaeological Research and Planning at
Rakhigarhi
Vasant Shinde
Deccan College
Post-Graduate and Research
Institute Deemed University
Pune
Joint work between
Deccan College, Deemed
University and the Dept. of
Archaeology and Museums,
Haryana Government.

2. GeneralDistributionofHarappan
sitesintheSubcontinent

3. YAMUNA
INDUS
CHENAB
JHELUM
RAVI
SATLUJ
BEAS
DRYBED OFG HAG G AR
DRYBED OFCHAUTANG
PALAEO-YAMUNA
OLD
BED
OFBEAS
30 0
29 0
77
0
74
0
74
0
77 0
30
29
0
0
N
Rakhigarhi
Ka lib a n g a n
Ghaggar and Chautang rivers in the Ghaggar Basin have been identified
by some scholars as Rg Vedic Saraswati and Drishadwati respectively.
The region between them has
Heavy concentration of Harappan sites of different phases.

4. Ghaggar Basin ,
being Fertile and
well watered ,
served as the main
attraction for the
Harapan people

5. Kalibangan
Juni Kuran
RakhigarhiBhirrana
Banawali
Tarkhanawala
Dhera
Suktagendor
Lothal
Baror
Kunal
Surkotada
Padri
Bagasra
Kuntasi
Mitathall Girawad
Farmana
Kanmer
Important Excavated Harappan
Sites in the Ghaggar basin; Note
the location of the site of
Rakhigarhi

7. GullyinthemiddleseparatestwovillagesRakhiKhaasandRakhi
Shahpur.BoththevillagesarelocatedonRGR-4,themainmound
atRakhigarhi,HissarDistrict,Haryana

8. Two to three hundred
years old Havelis in the
Village. They are also
Cultural Heritage of the
village.

9. Antiquity collectors of the village play important role in the preservation of
Cultural Heritage of the village

10. Distribution of seven mounds labelled
by the ASI as RGR 1-7 (Courtesy ASI)

11. RGR- 1
RGR- 2

12. RGR- 4
RGR- 3

13. RGR- 5
RGR- 6
RGR- 7

14. Why Rakhigarhi?
1. Largest Harappan site in the country, extremely potential as is clear from
the research carried out by the earlier scholar and the present team
2. The major part is under modern habitation and slowly and surely the site is
being encroached upon. The destruction and encroachment need to be
stopped immediately to save the greatest Harappan site in the country.
3. Close and well connected to Delhi, convenient for a day’s trip. Many well
studied sites in the vicinity as Farmana, Bhirrana, etc.
4. Ideal candidate to study cultural process from Early to Mature phases of the
Harappan culture.
5. Study at the site will enable understanding of the “Regional Variations” of
Harappan culture in the Ghaggar basin and role played by the regional
cultures in the development of the regional diversity.
6. Role played by the site in the Social-economic organizations of the
Harappans.

15. Future Plans:
1. Uncover earlier excavated structures and preserve and protect them for the
benefit of the public. Raise dome structures on them so that they are safe
and viewed all year around.
2. Undertake excavations at the Habitation as well as Burial portion of the site
to establish proper cultural sequence, understand settlement pattern, health,
diet and composition of Harappan population.
3. Onsite conservation labs, training in conservation and excavation and Site
Museum
3. Ethnographic study to understand the survival of the Harappan legacy and
reconstruct Traditional Knowledge System.
4. Community development programme- Ensure participation of the local
people in the preservation of the site and developmental programmes.

16. Proposed Community Development Works:
1. Road Connectivity
2. Municipal Services
3. Roads, lanes to be repaired
4. Tree plantation
5. Provide clean drinking water
6. Establish medical and education facilities
7. Guidance to the people for establishing cottage
industries
8. Provide street lamps, etc.

17. Periodicmeetingwiththevillagers(CommunityArchaeology)to
discussfuturecourseofactionregardstothemuseumworkandtheir
participationinthepreservationofsite.

19. Rakhigarhi Excavation 2014-15- Excavators

20. TotalStationSurveyforContourmappingofthesite

21. GEOPHYSICAL INVESTIGATIONS AT HARAPPAN SITE OF RAKHIGARHI, HARYANA
Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) N
GEOPHYSICS DIVISION, CENTRAL WATER AND POWER RESEARCH STATION, PUNE-24
FIELD LAYOUT
Field Lay Out of Ground Penetrating Radar Survey for understanding
Potentiality and total extent of the site

22. GPR record of profile P-26 on RGR- 3
Scattered Objects in loose soil

23. New Research: 2011-12
1. Total Station and
GPR Survey-
2. Correct mapping
of the site completed
3. Surface sampling to
identify different activity
areas.

24. Total area of the site calculated comes
to around 350 ha. The calculation is not
yet completed. Two new mounds (RGR-8
and RGR-9) have been discovered
RGR- 8 RGR-9

25. Systematicsurfacesamplingwasundertakento
studydistributionofdifferentactivityareas

26. Distribution of various craft activities across RGR2

27. Distribution of Pottery across RGR- 2

28. Distribution of TC
Bangles across
RGR-2

29. Future Plans:
1. Uncover earlier excavated structures and preserve and protect them for the
benefit of the public. Raise dome structures on them so that they are safe
and viewed all year around.
2. Undertake excavations at the Habitation as well as Burial portion of the site
to establish proper cultural sequence, understand settlement pattern, health,
diet and composition of Harappan population.
3. Onsite conservation labs, training in conservation and excavation and Site
Museum
3. Ethnographic study to understand the survival of the Harappan legacy and
reconstruct Traditional Knowledge System.
4. Community development programme- Ensure participation of the local
people in the preservation of the site and developmental programmes.

30. CulturalsequenceonRGR-4andRGR-6

31. Culturalsequence–EarlyHarappan
(c.5500-2600BCE)andMatureHarappan
(2600-2000BCE)
EarlyHarappanStructuresandfeatures
RGR- 6

32. EarlyHarappanStructuralComplexesonRGR-6

33. EarlyHarappanStructuralComplexonRGR-6

34. EarlyHarappanclaystoragebinand
Pot,RGR-6

35. Step-trench excavation on RGR-4
for understanding complete cultural
sequence and history of the site.
Total habitation deposit 22 m
of which lower 1 m belongs to
Early Harappan phase and the rest
to Mature Harappan

36. Remains of drainage and bathing platform,
Mature Harappan phase.

37. Mature
Harappan
Granary

39. Burialsiteandexcavationinprogress

40. Scientificexcavationofburials.Alltheburials
belongtotheMatureHarappanphase

47. Careful packing
of the burials.
Because of such
precaution DNA
could be
subtracted

48. Early Harappan and Mature Harappan representative
pottery

49. Typical burial pottery, Mature Harappan phase

50. Typical artefacts like arrowheads, blade tools, seals
Terracotta animal figurines, etc

52. Mature Harappan
Sealing and seal

53. TTypical Mature Harappan stone and faience beads, spacer, terracotta
Balls and figurines

54. Harappan terracotta
bangles, copper object
and bone tools

55. There is modern parallel
for terracotta balls found
in the Harappan levels

56. Harappan legacy continues.
The modern settlement looks
identical to the Harappan
plan

58. Proposed shed on the excavated remains at Rakhigarhi

59. Thanks for your attention and patience