There are several photographs of the earthen jar D27 that was found on Mound A-B. This was one of the earliest complete pots discovered at Harappa. That this pot was one of the images published by Marshall in his announcement in the Illustrated London News in September 1924 shows how important it was in the early excavations.
Mound A - B
"In the topmost stratum, which occurred at the depth of 13 feet from the summit of the mound, was revealed a round brick granary standing about six feet high. By the side of the granary was lying an earthen vase (Plate XXI, fig.b), 5 3/4" in height, and painted in black colour vith a row of four winged antelopes with long antlers stretching back over their bodies."
- Daya Ram Sahni, 1926. Annual Report Of The Archaeological Survey Of India 1923-24, pg 53. Image: Plate XXI, b.
Mound A - B, Stratum II, Finds
"Open-mouthed, pedestalled earthenware vase adorned with a row of four deer in two pairs, each pair alternating with a cog-wheel-shaped, circumscribed orb. Above them and enclosed by bands are rows of leaves alternating with fishes (Pl LXXIll, 51). The shape, ware and paintings are typical of several vases of Stratum II from the northern extension of the Western Section of the Cemetery H. It was found at the foot of the granary mentioned above.
Ht. 5 3/4 in.; diam, at mouth 5 1/4 in. No. D27; Depth 4 ft. b.s."
- Madho Sarup Vats, Excavations at Harappa: Being an account of archaeological excavations at Harappa carried out between the years 1920-21 and 1933-34. Volume I - Text; Volume II - 139 Plates., pg 138. Image Pl. LXXIII, 51.
Comparison with pottery found at Area H - The prehistoric cemetery. Subsection: Continuity of the Indus sherds in the Cemetery.
"Furthermore, the squat, medium-sized, round water pots with broad mouth and well-defined ring-base (PL LXl, type H), which were recovered from Stratum II of the Extension of the Western Section of the Cemetery, resemble vase No. D27 (PL LXXlll, 51) which was found 4 ft. below the surface in Trench B near the Tomb of Naugaza, and No. 5191 (PL LXXlll, 40) found in the Extension of Pits I and II in the same mound at a depth of over 3 ft...The cumulative evidence of these potsherds found in large numbers on and near the surface of the eastern slope of Mound F, and from all over the highest Mound AB, which is one of the latest mounds at Harappa, throws a valuable side light on the date of the Cemetery H, which may confidently be assigned to the latest period of the prehistoric Indus Culture, as it manifested itself at Harappa after Mohenjo-daro had ceased to be. In this view I am confirmed by the comparatively bold and highly developed forms of the burial pottery as a whole, and also by the distinctly more advanced character of their paintings as compared with those on the bulk of the pottery from the mounds."
- Madho Sarup Vats, Excavations at Harappa: Being an account of archaeological excavations at Harappa carried out between the years 1920-21 and 1933-34. Volume I - Text; Volume II - 139 Plates., pg 233-34. Image Pl. LXXIII, 51.
This form of vessel with flaring rim and pedestaled base is distinctive of the Late Harappan Period (1900-1700 BCE). It is found in both the domestic areas as well as in association with Late Harappan burials in Cemetery H.
- Jonathan Mark Kenoyer, 2023.