Exploring The 7000-8000 Years Old Sindhu-Sarasvati Civilisation!

Recent excavations at Rakhigarhi reveals that the Sindhu-Sarasvati Civilisation (SSC) dates back to 8000 years Before Present (BP), equivalent to 6000 BCE. ASI, along with researchers from Deccan College Pune and other teams from across the nation made this discovery.

Dr. Amarendra Nath of the Indian Archaeology Department conducted the initial phase of excavations at Rakhigarhi from 1997 to 2000. It was found that it dates back to 2500 BC. Professor Vasant Shinde of Deccan College in Pune oversaw the second phase of excavations at Rakhigarhi, which took place between 2006 and 2013. During this time, Shinde’s team gathered information and performed DNA tests. It was found that it dates back to 4000 years.

Latest findings-

The ASI and Deccan College Pune worked together on the latest stage of excavations for the past two years. The team was led by ASI joint director Sanjay Kumar Manjul and Deccan College Pune assistant professor Prabhodh Shirwalkar. The origin of the Sindhu-Sarasvati civilisation has been pushed back 7,000–8,000 years in this recent excavations.

In Rakhigarhi, seven mounds have been excavated so far, and each one has turned up a variety of artifacts. This time, digging was conducted in three of the seven mounds. Union Minister of Culture G. Kishan Reddy stated that mounds number six and seven have been designated by ASI as sites of national importance.

• Prof. Shirwalkar disclosed that during the excavation, utensils made of different metals, including gold and silver, as well as clay pots, ancient silver and copper ornaments, and a dinner set were found.
• In the excavations, a courtyard along with drainage system was discovered. In addition, large ancient houses with two to six bedrooms were found. Now, it is also known how the people during that era dressed. A shawl, a skirt, and a colorful, worn piece of cloth were discovered by the research team.
• A large burial ground has been found with animal and human traps.
• After the third mound was excavated, it appeared to be a “aristocratic settlement” with a burnt brick wall, raising the possibility that it was a walled area.
• A jewellery making factory or a unit has been found.
• Along with thousands of clay pots and seals, terracotta toys, statues and figures, and jewelry made of copper, gold, agate, and other semi-precious stones, the site also contains the frameworks and structures of tiered houses, a kitchen complex, lanes, a drainage system, and graveyards.

The evidences indicate that people of that era were advanced.

Significance- 

Rakhigarhi in Haryana is unarguably the most important SSC (Sindhu-Sarasvati Civilisation) site now. It is spread over 550 Hectares and is twice the size of Mohenjo-Daro. Excavations conducted at this 8000 year old site revealed that it was once a manufacturing hub.

Then a study of the skeletal remains was conducted. In 2016, DNA from the skeletons of the Sindhu-Sarasvati Civilisation were successfully extracted by scientists for the first time. Three different institutes of world repute conducted the DNA analysis.

DNA signatures were extracted from a few skeletal remains by a Harvard University team under the direction of geneticist David Reich. Using the petrous bone of the inner ear of a 5,000-year-old woman’s skeleton, they created a novel scientific method to extract and analyze DNA. Then again in 2019 a research on ancestry was done. The results of the DNA analysis and the study have revealed some fascinating discoveries-

• Not even a single trace of the R1a1 gene or Central Asian “steppe” genes—also referred to as the “Aryan gene”—was discovered during the analysis of DNA samples from skeletons discovered at Rakhigarhi, an Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) site in Haryana.
• The human skeletons in the burial show no signs of palaeopathology. Denture morphology revealed teeth free of infection. It was also found that the skull and bones were in good condition. No cuts and scars thus indicating a population not subjected to warfare. All of this indicates that the population had complete knowledge systems and were receiving sophisticated healthcare.
• The DNA of Rakhigarhi sample matches that of Modern Bharatiya.
• Both the genetic and archaeological data demonstrate cultural continuity since last 8000 years from Rakhigarhi till present day.

Conclusion-

The idea that the Harappan population descended from Steppe pastoralists or ancient Iranian farmers is wholly refuted by the DNA results. It demolishes the hypothesis about mass human migration during Harappan time from outside south Asia or before. Our ancestors were the Harappans. Even the cultures of the Harappans and the Vedas are similar, according to V S Shinde.

All in all, the discovery of rice grains at Rakhigarhi and evidences of mixed cropping at Kalibangan and other SSC (Sindhu-Sarasvati Civilisation) sites. Reveals that rice was cultivated much before it was pioneered in China. It also establishes that they were indigenous people who developed their own farming practices. The evidences of horse remains along with the discovery of chariot at Sinauli (dated around 2100-1900BCE) predates the arrival of horse centered Indo-Aryans. Also the discovery of Sarasvati River being glacier fed 9000-4500 years ago as stated in the Rigveda. Then presence of fire altars at Lothal shows the presence of Vedic practices. This along with the recent discoveries completely debunks the Aryan Invasion Theory.