Published in ARASI 1924-25, Plate XXIV (d). Title: ‘Harappa: Mound F, Contents of a Cinerary Jar (A (F) 317)’
Sahni described the area this was found as: “between the trench “Ae” … and the long trench A, a large rectangular cutting A(f), 89’ x 66’, was made and excavated to the depth of about 6’ below the surface. … reference may be made to two little circular structures paved in brick on a thick substratum of hard burnt nodules of brick. … Another little structure consists of a paved platform surrounded by a single course of brick laid on-edge which may have been a bathing platform… Under this platform was a mass of cremated human bones …This trench yielded a large number of stone mortars and pestles which recall the practice of burying such objects with the dead in Mesopotamian sites. … Plate XXIV (d) shows the contents of a large funeral jar found in this trench. The portable antiquities recovered included several seals and faience objects (Plate XXVIII).”
- Daya Ram Sahni, ARASI 1924-25, p. 77.
Vats made a critical note of Sahni’s above description in his note on “the trenches Af and Ai”:
“In describing one of them the Rai Bahadur says ‘Another little structure consists of a paved platform surrounded by a single course of brick laid on edge, which might have been a bathing platform as a large earthen jar was standing on one side of it. Underneath this platform was a mass of cremated human bones and, about 16’ from it, a large heap of ashes and charcoal with human bones, which undoubtedly represents the remains of several funeral pyres. This trench yielded a large number of stone mortars and pestles, which recall the practice of burying such objects with the dead in Mesopotamian sites. [footnote A.S.R. for 1924-25, p. 77]. “Just such a mass of charcoal, ashes, bones, stones, and nodules was found by me in the southern part of Trench IV, which lies close by, but I have no doubt that it was nothing more than the rubbish which is so plentiful in all raised part of Mound F. In my view, it is highly improbable that cremation platforms or funeral pyres would have been made in the midst of dwelling houses all over the site. A small secluded crematorium by the river side, such as is found in most of our modern Indian towns, would have been much more likely.”
- Vats, M.S. 1940, Vol. I, p. 50.
There is no mention, in Vats 1940, of the Jar (A (f) 317) within the list of antiquities that follows the above paragraph, and which were “found scattered in Trench Af” (Vats ibid, p. 50). A ‘napiform jar No. Af21’ is listed with the note “presumably had the usual contents of post cremation jars.” [Vats ibid, p. 51]