A broken steatite tablet
A broken steatite tablet (H97-3431/7615-01) was recovered from deposits just below the fired brick revetment of the "granary" platform and dates to Harappa Period 3B (2450-2200 BC).
HARP (Harappa Archaeological Research Project) a group of scholars from a variety of fields dedicated to advancing the study of the ancient Indus Valley civilization.
Early levels of the Harappan city
After surface collections, the Trench 54 area of Mound E was selected for excavations because it allowed the exposure of a large area of the earliest levels of the ancient Harappan Period city, dating to approximately 2600-2450 BC.
Ravi phase pit with trash and beads
This large Ravi phase pit was filled with domestic trash and some bead making debris. The broken amazonite bead in (8) can be seen just above the scale inside the pit to the lower right of the image.
Ravi Phase Floor
Excavations in Trench 39 South 1996 uncovered the floor of a house dating to the Ravi Phase (circa 3100 BCE). Many complete vessels were found sitting on the floor along with broken necklaces, bone and stone tools, spindle whorls and bangles made of
A small faience ram amulet
A small faience ram amulet recovered from the fill associated with the southwestern edge of the "granary" platform. (Trench 41SW, H97-3434/7650-01, Length = 21.8 mm)
Richard Meadow photographing
Richard Meadow photographs the excavations in Trench 54 from a tall bamboo ladder that is supported by four ropes. This ladder can be situated over any area of the excavations to obtain near vertical views of rooms and artifact scatters.
Microscopic analysis of bead drill hole
Scanning electron microscope photos of a molded impression of the drill hole indicate that the amazonite bead (8) was drilled with a tapered chert or jasper drill.
Ravi Phase Pottery Fragments
All pottery from the first part of the Ravi Phase was hand built. Most of the forms were finely made shallow bowls, deep bowls, narrow-mouthed carinated vessels, or thick walled cooking pots.
The northwest corner of the "granary" platform
Excavations in 1997 at the northwest corner of the "granary" platform were undertaken to follow the outline of the structure and document its construction (Trench 1NW)).
Protecting mud brick walls
After mapping and photography, the fragile mud brick walls of Trench 54 are covered with a protective layer of burlap and sifted soil to form a sacrificial layer in which dissolved salts can dry and crystallize without damaging the ancient walls.