Haryana Government has declared two historically significant Harappan-era archaeological sites- Tighrana and Mitathal in Bhiwani district- as protected monuments under Haryana Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1964.
This step ensures preservation of over 4,400-year-old settlements from Indus Valley Civilization (IVC), known for its urban planning, bead industry, and copper-age tools.
Protected Areas: Protection measures include fencing, deployment of guards, and formal excavation monitoring by the Haryana Heritage and Tourism Department.
About Mitathal Site
First Discovery: 1913 – hoard of coins from Samudra Gupta (Gupta dynasty).
Excavations: Conducted by ASI (1965-68) and university teams (2016, 2020, 2021, 2024).
Mitathal site: 10-acre area declared protected.
Key Findings:
- Evidences of Copper-Bronze Age culture (3rd–2nd millennium BCE).
- Town planning and architecture consistent with Harappan traditions.
- Well-burnt red pottery, decorated with black-painted motifs like pipal leaf, fish scales, and geometric patterns.
- Artefacts: Beads, bangles, terracotta, and objects made of stone, shell, copper, ivory, and bone.
About Tighrana Site
Tighrana site: Also notified as a protected archaeological site.
Settlement dates back to around 2400 BCE, occupied by Sothian farming communities.
Excavations reveal pre-Siswal, pre-Harappan, and post-Harappan settlements.
Key Discoveries:
- Early farming communities lived in mud-brick homes; some settlements possibly fortified.
- Wheel-made bichrome ceramics (black and white motifs).
- Used copper, bronze, and stone tools.
- Domesticated animals like cows, bulls, goats, etc.
- Jewellery industry: Beads and green carnelian bangles indicate a thriving bead-making trade.
About Harappan Civilization (Indus Valley Civilization – IVC)
Timeline: Flourished around 2500 BCE.
Geography: Spread across the Indus River valley (present-day India & Pakistan).
Significance: One of the world’s four oldest urban civilizations (alongside Egypt, Mesopotamia, and China).
Type: Bronze Age civilization, known for use of copper-based alloys.
Major Discoveries:
- Excavated by Daya Ram Sahni (Harappa, 1921–22) and Rakhal Das Banerji (Mohenjo-daro, 1922).
- Supervised by Sir John Marshall, Director General, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
Why This Matters?
- Preservation Urgency: Large portions of Mitathal and Tighrana sites have already been destroyed due to lack of formal protection.
- Cultural Heritage: Declaring these sites protected helps preserve valuable insights into the urban planning, lifestyle, and industries of one of the earliest human civilizations.
- Academic Significance: Continuous excavations provide rare insights into the transition between pre-Harappan to post-Harappan eras.