Chanhudaro

Chanhudaro
Chanhudaro

Shown within Pakistan Alternatename Location Coordinates Type Area Chanhu daro Mullan Sandh, Sindh, Pakistan 261025N 681923E Settlement 5ha (12acres) History Founded Abandoned Periods Cultures 40th century BC 17th century BC Regionalisation Era to Harappan 4 Indus Valley Civilization Site notes Excavationdates 1930, 19351936 Archaeologists Nani Gopal Majumdar, Ernest John Henry Mackay [1]

Coordinates: 261025N 681923E [1]

Chanhudaro (also Chanhu Daro) is an archaeological site belonging to the post-urban Jhukar phase of Indus valley civilization. The site is located 130 kilometers (81mi) south of Mohenjo-daro, in Sindh, Pakistan. The settlement was inhabited between 4000 and 1700BCE, and is considered to have been a centre for manufacturing carnelian beads. This site is a group of three low mounds that excavations has shown were parts of a single settlement, approximately 5hectares in size. Chanhudaro was first excavated by Nani Gopal Majumdar in March, 1930 and again during winter field session of 1935-36 by the American School of Indic and Iranian Studies and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston team led by Ernest John Henry Mackay.[2] After the independence of Pakistan, Mohammed Rafique Mughal also did exploratory work in the area.

Chanhudaro

Historical significance
Chanhudaro is one of most important sites of Indus Civilisation. More than 2500 sites belonging to Indus Civilisation are identified so far and Chanhudaro is one of the bigger sites, where lot of scope is identified for excavation. Of late, the excavation in this site is not in progress and with this, contribution from this site is less. It is situated in desert area, but it is identified that Sarasvathi river used to flow near this site. Sarasvathi river is believed to be dried up during 2nd millennium BC,[3] and with this, the life at Chanhudaro and several hundreds of dwellings situated on the banks of Sarasvathi faced (probably) lot of hardships. They have to leave their dwelling places and it is thought that drying up of Sarasvathi is one of the reasons for decline all these dwelling places, (cities and villages) which contributed to declineof Indus Civilisation.[4]
Indus Valley sites

Early excavation
Chanhudaro is about 12miles east of present day Indus river bed. Chanhu-Daro was investigated in 1931 by the Indian archaeologist N. G. Majumdar. It was observed that this ancient city was very similar to Harappa and Mohenjadaro in several aspects like town planning, building layout etc.[5] The site was excavated in the mid-1930s by the American School of Indic and Iranian Studies and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, where several important details of this ancient city was investigated.[6]

Harappan Phase Cut brick c. 2500 1900BCE, Chanhu Daro, Pakistan

Town planning
For building houses, bakes bricks were used extensively at Chanhudaro and Mohenjo-daro.[7] Several constructions were identified as work shops or industrial quarters and some of the buildings of Chanhudaro might have been warehouses.[8]

Industrial activity
Evidence of shell working was found at Chanhudaro and bangles and ladles were made at this site.[9] Harappan seals were made generally in bigger towns like Harappa, Mohenjadaro and Chanhudaro which were involved with administrative network.[10]

Artefacts found
Copper knives, spears, razors, axes, vessels and dishes were found, inspiring this site to be nicknamed as "Sheffield of India" by Earnest Mackay.[11] Copper fish hooks were also recovered from this site.[12] Terrecotta cart model, small terrecottabird when blown acts as vistle, plates, dishes were found. Male spear thrower or dancer - a broken statue (4.1cm) is of much importance, found at Chanhudaro, now displayed at Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, USA.[13][14] Indus Seals are also found at Chanhudaro and Chanhudaro is considered as one of the centres where Seals are manufactured.[15] The scale of craft production at Chanhudaro seems much greater than that at Mohenjedaro, perhaps taking up half of town for this activity.[16]

Chanhudaro

Bead making factory

An Impressive workshop, recognised as Bead Making Factory, was found at Chanhudaro, which included a furnace.[17] Shell bangles, beads of many materials, stealite seals and metal works were manufactured at Chanhudaro.[18]

Cultivation
Sesame, which is a native of South Africa, is known from number of Harappan sites, including Chanhudaro, probably grown for oil.[19] Peas are also grown at Chanhudaro.[20]

Importance
In respect of Indus Script, ||/ sign is only found on inscriptions found at Chanhudaro. It occurred on eleven objects, (around one sixth of all inscribed objectes recovered from Chanhudaro) leading to suggestion by Asko Parapola that it may represent town's name.[21] Cotton cloth traces preserved on silver or bronze objects were known from Chanhudaro, Harappa and Rakhigarhi.[22] Objects of Iron were reported from Chanhudaro, Ahar (Rajastan, India) and Mundigak and this gains importance as it has been claimed that Iron was produced in 3rd Millenium in South Asia Region.[23]

Notes
[1] http:/ / tools. wmflabs. org/ geohack/ geohack. php?pagename=Chanhudaro& params=26_10_25_N_68_19_23_E_type:landmark [2] Possehl, Gregory L. (2004). The Indus Civilization: A contemporary perspective, New Delhi: Vistaar Publications, ISBN 81-7829-291-2, p.74. [3] The Lost River by Michel Danino, Penguin India 2010 [4] The Lost River by Michel Danino. Penguin 2010 [5] Possehl, Gregory L. (2004). The Indus Civilization: A contemporary perspective, New Delhi: Vistaar Publications [6] about.com.Archeology [7] McIntosh, Jane.(2008) The Ancient Indus Valley: New Perspectives. ABC-CLIO. Page 210 [8] McIntosh, Jane.(2008) The Ancient Indus Valley: New Perspectives. ABC-CLIO. Page 229 [9] McIntosh, Jane.(2008) The Ancient Indus Valley, New Perspectives. ABC-CLIO. [10] McIntosh, Jane.(2008) The Ancient Indus Valley, New Perspectives. ABC-CLIO Page 264 [11] Illustrated London News, November 21, 1936 (http:/ / www. iln. org. uk/ iln_years/ year/ 1936a. htm) [12] McIntosh, Jane.(2008) The Ancient Indus Valley: New Perspectives. ABC-CLIO. Page 135 [13] Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (http:/ / www. bridgemanart. com/ asset/ 263601/ Harappan/ Male-Spear-Thrower-or-Dancer-from-Chanhudaro-Sin?search_context={"url":"\/ search\/ artist\/ Harappan\/ 20642","num_results":"29","search_type":"creator_assets","creator_id":"20642","item_index":26}) [14] McIntosh, Jane.(2008) The Ancient Indus Valley: New Perspectives. ABC-CLIO. Page 281 [15] McIntosh, Jane. (2008) The Ancient Indus Valle: New Perspectives. ABC-CLIO.Page 264 (http:/ / books. google. co. in/ books?id=1AJO2A-CbccC& printsec=frontcover& dq=The+ Ancient+ Indus+ Valley:New+ Perspective& hl=en& sa=X& ei=AFTlT8qDKo3prQeJ9PiJCQ& ved=0CDoQ6AEwAA#v=snippet& q=chanhudaro& f=false) [16] McIntosh, Jane.(2008) The Ancient Indus Valley: New Perspectives. ABC-CLIO. Page 303 [17] McIntosh, Jane.(2008) The Ancient Indus Valley: New Perspectives. ABC-CLIO. Page 237 [18] McIntosh, Jane.(2008) The Ancient Indus Valley: New Perspectives. ABC-CLIO. Page 150 [19] McIntosh, Jane.(2008) The Ancient Indus Valley, New Perspectives. ABC-CLIO. Page 114 [20] McIntosh, Jane.(2008) The Ancient Indus Valley, New Perspectives. ABC-CLIO [21] Asko Parpola (1994) (http:/ / books. google. co. in/ books?id=1AJO2A-CbccC& printsec=frontcover& dq=The+ Ancient+ Indus+ Valley:New+ Perspective& hl=en& sa=X& ei=AFTlT8qDKo3prQeJ9PiJCQ& ved=0CDoQ6AEwAA#v=snippet& q=chanhudaro& f=false) [22] McIntosh, Jane.(2008) The Ancient Indus Valley: New Perspectives. ABC-CLIO. Page 333 [23] McIntosh, Jane.(2008) The Ancient Indus Valley: New Perspectives. ABC-CLIO. Page 320 (http:/ / books. google. co. in/ books?id=1AJO2A-CbccC& printsec=frontcover& dq=The+ Ancient+ Indus+ Valley:New+ Perspective& hl=en& sa=X& ei=AFTlT8qDKo3prQeJ9PiJCQ& ved=0CDoQ6AEwAA#v=snippet& q=chanhudaro& f=false)

Article Sources and Contributors

Article Sources and Contributors

Chanhudaro Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=563404772 Contributors: Aelfthrytha, AlexanderVanLoon, Ariobarzan, Arthurrohan, Artmartxx, AvicAWB, Bhadani, Dougweller, Edwy, Folks at 137, Godanov, Hebrides, Islescape, Jesse V., Joy1963, Mar4d, Mogism, Rama's Arrow, Rayabhari, Sapphic, Siddiqui, Udimu, Wavelength, Zykasaa, 2 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors

file:Pakistan location map.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Pakistan_location_map.svg License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Contributors: NordNordWest File:Carte Indus.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Carte_Indus.jpg License: Attribution Contributors: Original uploader was Nataraja at fr.wikipedia File:Cut brick, Indus Valley Tradition, Harappan Phase, Chanhu Daro, Pakistan, c. 2500-1900 BC - Royal Ontario Museum - DSC09716.JPG Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Cut_brick,_Indus_Valley_Tradition,_Harappan_Phase,_Chanhu_Daro,_Pakistan,_c._2500-1900_BC_-_Royal_Ontario_Museum_-_DSC09716.JPG License: unknown Contributors: Daderot

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