Two more mounds at Harappan site of Rakhigarhi declared protected

ASI’s Joint Director General Dr Sanjay Manjul told The Indian Express that the excavation had already taken place at mound number 7 in 2005-2006, 2015 and 2023, while the small-level excavation had started at mound number 6 in 2005-06 and 2015. “We have plans to launch excavations at mound number 7 again too. Currently, the excavation work is going on at mound number 3,” said Manjul.

“The newly declared protected area (40.26 acres) of mound number 6 and seven will be acquired by the government and compensation will be given to the farmers concerned. Vacation of the land would be required after its acquisition.

Till the land is acquired, agriculture at the land will be allowed but cutting of the mound would be prohibited.

The cultivation would be allowed at the soil but a penetration inside the earth will not be allowed. Nobody can disturb and cut the mound. The soil concerned cannot be sold,” he added.

Earlier, a three-month long excavation at three of the seven mounds at the Harappan site in 2022 had revealed the structure of some houses, lanes and drainage system, and what could possibly be a jewellery-making unit apart from pieces of copper and gold jewellery, terracotta toys, besides thousands of earthen pots and seals.

The skeletons of two women found at mound number 7, were believed to be nearly 5,000 years old. Pots and other artefacts were found buried next to the remains, part of funerary rituals back, ASI officials had stated then.

Former Haryana chief secretary DS Dhesi had earlier stated that the archaeological site in Hisar dates back to 2600- 1900 BC and areas where urban planning aspects have been discovered, were being excavated.