Excavation History

Essays on the archaeological exploration and excavation history of ancient Indus Valley sites including Harappa, Mohenjo-daro and Gola Dhoro.

Recent Indus Discoveries and Highlights from Excavations at Harappa 1998-2000

Harappa Phase Occupation: Granary or Great Hall One of the most famous buildings at Harappa is the so-called "Great Granary" (Trench II) that was first excavated under the supervision of Rai Bahadur

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Sir Alexander Cunningham, 1853-1873

"The ruins of Harapa are the most extensive of all the old sites along the banks of the Ravi. On the north, the west, and the south, there is a continuous line of mounds about 3,500 feet in length."

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Recent Indus Discoveries and Highlights from Excavations at Harappa 1998-2000

Harappa Phase Occupation: Circular Working Platforms and Mound E, Southwest The circular working platforms located to the south of the "granary" or Great Hall are also among the best known features at

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M. Longworth Dames, 1884-1886

"Another seal, apparently in the same writing, was obtained on November 21st, 1884, by Mr. J. Harvey, Inspector of Schools, Multan. This seal is of a drab-coloured smooth stone, perfectly flat on the engraved side and rounded at the back."

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Recent Indus Discoveries and Highlights from Excavations at Harappa 1998-2000

Late Harappa Phase, Conclusion, and References Harappa is perhaps the only urban center where it has been possible to trace the transition from the Harappan to the Late Harappan (Cemetery H) period.

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John F. Fleet, 1912

"The place is now of no importance : but extensive ruins and mounds, one of which rises to the height of sixty feet, indicate that the case was otherwise in ancient times and it has yielded thousands of coins of the ‘‘ Indo-Scythians and their successors."

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Daya Ram Sahni, 1917

"The ancient remains of Harappa in the Montgomery District are one of the most ancient and extensive city sites in the Punjab, but unfortunately they continue to be used as a quarry for building materials up till now. I hope to shortly approach the Government with a proposal for declaring these ruins as a protected monument . . ."