Eternal India Encyclopedia

ARCHAEOLOGY

Eternal India Encyclopedia

poor architectural remains are indicative of the decline of Harappan prosperity in Period II itself. Further decline in standards is seen in Period III when the goblet, beaker and other typical Harappan ceramic types disappeared. A steatite seal depicting the tiger with a brazier found in Period II is significant for the integration of the two cults namely fire-worship and tiger-cult, the latter being sym- bolic of the religion of forest dwellers. The exploration of the ancient beds of the Sarasvati (Ghaggar), Drishadvati (Chautang), and the valleys of the Sabi and Yamuna in Haryana has yielded 44 Harappan and 297 Late Harappan sites. A few pre-Harappan settlements representing the Siswal Culture named as such after the first site of this culture are traceable. Mitathal is another typesite wherein IIB represents the Late Har- appa culture., Suraj Bhan has called Early Siswal (Period I) as pre- Harappa Siswa Period II divided into A and B as Harappa and Late Harappa respectively. A recent excavation at Kunal in Haryana has re- vealed both Pre-Harappan and Harappan phases of Sindu-Sarasvati civilisation which had its origin here. Among the outstanding discoveries made by the Haryana state department of Archaeology mention may be made of silver jewellery including two crowns, necklaces etc. which recall those described in the Rig Veda. The Pre- Harappan level has also yielded typical Indus stone weights, seals and other articles.