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European Journal of Business &
Social Sciences
Available at https://ejbss.org/
ISSN: 2235-767X
Volume 07 Issue 03
March 2019
Available online: https://ejbss.org/ P a g e | 338
Harappan Cultural Conversion in Haryana
Monu Bhankar
M.Phil Scholar, Dept.of A.I.H
Kurukshetra University Kurukshetra.
Email id: monutosham333@gmail.com
Mob.no: 9050998734
Abstract
Before proceeding to discuss the archaeological evidence of continuity and change
in the material culture of the happiness as obtained in the Haryana region it is necessary
to state briefly the sense in which the term ‘transformation’ is used here. Ordinarily the
term means change in the outward shape, semblance, structure or composition without
altering the meaning or value. It is rarely used in the sense of transmutation – change of
nature, disposition or change of heart. I am using it in the former sense with a purpose to
bring out the elements of the material culture that undergo change or are resistant to
change and show Continuity in time and space. It may be pointed out that the data on the
subject being mainly drawn from a limited excavation of Mitahal and surface
explorations the Conclusions drawn here will be tentative and need to the further
corroborated by horizontal excavations. The purpose of this paper is to study the nature
of change as noticed in the chief elements of the nature of change as noticed in the chief
elements of the Harappa Culture in the successive stages and to identify the stimuli.
Keywords: Transformation, Excavation, Archaeology, Exploration.
Introduction: The excavations of Ranpur for the first time exploded the myth of the
static character of the Harappa civilization by revealing the stratigraphic evidence of the
survival of the culture in a decadent stage. This was further corroborated by the
excavations at Lothal. Similar stages of development of the culture were postulated by
the excavator of Kotla Nihang khan, Rupar and Bara. But the absence of Harappan
deposits at those met on the genesis of the Bara culture Complex. And this culture has
been variously described in the archeological literature as “Late – Harappan” and even
“Pre – Harappan” – The first of these terms suggests a stage in the development of the
Page 2 of 7
European Journal of Business &
Social Sciences
Available at https://ejbss.org/
ISSN: 2235-767X
Volume 07 Issue 03
March 2019
Available online: https://ejbss.org/ P a g e | 339
culture mature to late or decadent. It stands as antonym of early Harappan. The term
“Post Harappan” on the other hand indicates the chronological posteriority of the culture
and may imply and alien culture (as opposed to Pre–Harappan). While the term Pre- Harappan points to the chronological precedence of the culture it may also imply an alien
culture. But the absence of a fuller picture for want of Horizontal excavations at any of
the Bara Culture sites and the seemingly regional traits of these complexes do not warrant
the use of these terms for this culture. It will be appropriate to use site name for this
phase after the site where its stratigraphic relationship is first established. I, therefore
prefer here to use the term Mithal װ b for this stage of the culture. A similar difficulty is
noticed in the use of the term like “Pre-Harappan”, Early Harappan or “Proto-Harappan
for the chalcolithic culture preceding the mature Harppa culture of Harappa, Kalibangn,
Kot-Diji, etc”. Here too I prefer to use type site names; for example, the culture
antecedent to mature Harappan in Haryana has been designated as Siswal A and the next
stage of its development as Siswal B after the type site. The need for a new designation
for a culture (Siswal A) related to Kalibangan I is justified by the regional variations
noticed.
The excavation of Mithathal (1968), Siswal(1970) and Daulatpur
(1968-1969) and (1969-1970) and other explorations at Rakhi Shahpur and Banawali in
our region have helped in establishing a continuous sequence of proto-Historic cultures
ranging from Siswal. A,through Harappan, Mithathal II B and pointed hrey-ware
cultures. Their investigation revealed the pre-existence of a non-Harappan sub-stratum
(Siswal A culture) of Kalibangan I affiliation in Haryana before the Harappans arrived.
The regional character of the Siswal. A culture complex and its remoteness from Baluchi
and ancestry are pointers to the possibility of the existence of still earlier stages of
Habitation in the region Corresponding to those in the Indus-valley. Since the scope of
the paper does not permit any consideration of this aspect of the problem, I will confine
myself to a brief surf the sequence of the region and the bearing it has on the culture
particularly related to the Harappa culture.
Objective: A. Siswal B. Harappan Phase C. Mithathal b
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European Journal of Business &
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ISSN: 2235-767X
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March 2019
Available online: https://ejbss.org/ P a g e | 340
Siswal:-
The Siswal A ware has been recovered from more than 15 cities in the ancient
Sarasvati and Drsadvati Valleys. But the excavation, though on an extremely limited
scale, was undertaken only at Siswal in district Hissar where its deposits like below there
of Siswal B, a lots stage of the former. Siswal a culture is distinguished by closer
affinities with Kalibangan I culture. The pottery of this phase is characterized by the
presence of all the six fabrics, bichrome. (while and black) paintings, internally incised
and externally rusticated vessels. The main shapes comprise 10th shaped vases; carinated
or globular vases; oval shaped storage jars; bowls with convex, out turned of flat topped
rims; dish or bowl on stand; stemmed cups or goblets. The incised designed include
horizontal or groups of flowing groves drawn in group with a sharp eded comb-like tool
on the interior of through and exterior of vases; sharply drawn chevrons, and the cord
designs. The pottery is on the whole wheel thrown.
Although there are no C 14 dates for Siswal A, the sub-period could
be cross dated on the basis of its cultural affinities with Kalibangan I. The Carbon 14
datesfor kalibangan I fall between C.2450 B.C and 2300 B.C. Which would be the date
for Siswal A?
Harappan Phase:-
The next stage in the socio-cultural growth of the region is marked by
the superim-position of the Siswal A settlements by those of the Harappans at Rakhi
Shahpur, Banawali and Mithathal. This corresponds with the evidence of Kalibanga,
Kotdiji and Harappa. The relationship between the co-exiting extensive Harappan
Settlements, the medium sized Mitathal II A settlements and the small sized Siswal B
settlements may not be far to guess. The large site like Rakhi Shahpur represented
Harappan cities, Mithal II A being a town, and Siswal B cities the villages. The
differences in the tree categories to settlements area not only in size but also in the culture
content and in all Probability in the Sociological composition of the inhabitants the cities
predominantly inhabited by the Harappan, the villages chiefly by the Siswal folk and the
town by the mixed population.
