First rectangular graveyard found

RAJKOT: After two months of excavation, archaeologists have stumbled upon what they believe is a massive burial site dating back to the Harappan civilization, around 360km from Dholavira in Gujarat 's Kutch district .Archaeologists said this site is 300 m x 300 m big with more than 250 graves out of which 26 have been excavated. They found one full human skeleton that is around six feet in length, estimated to be around 5,000 years old. The find has lent further credence to the possibility of big human settlement at this place.Moreover, it is for the first time that burial sites in rectangular shapes have been found in Gujarat. The burial site is estimated to be 4,600 to 5,200 years old. “All the burial sites found in Gujarat till date are either circular or semi circular. We are trying to establish the significance of this rectangular shape,” added Bhandari.Suresh Bhandari, head of Department of Archaeology, Kutch University said: “The skeleton has been taken to Kerala University for determining its age, possible reason for death and knowing its gender.”The excavation was done jointly by the Kutch University and Kerala University near Khatia village of Lakhpat taluka. It’s first time in Gujarat rectangular burial sites have been found.According to faculty members, the burials are more or less rectangular in shape with sound wall rocks in the east-west direction. The head was placed in east and foot in the west. The biggest grave is around 6.9 meter while the smallest is around 1.2 meter.Besides the human skeleton, animal remains have also been documented from the site. Artefacts like shell bangles, grinding stones, blades made from rock having razor sharp edges, rock beads have also been excavated from the site. All these will also be studied in detail to know the rituals and social deeds in the community during that time.“Studies of the potteries as well as rock blocks will enhance our knowledge about the different techniques employed and the raw material used for making them. The material excavated from this site will be studied at various laboratories in India to know the history of people living near Khatia during early Harappan period,” he said.The graves also contained pottery vessels with maximum 19 to a minimum three, placed near the foot. Archaeologists have said that these kind of vessels have been found in Amri, Naal and Kot in Pakistan, Nagwada, Chatrad Saheli, Moti Pipali of North Gujarat and Surkotda and Dhaneti in Kutch. Graves of children have also been discovered at this site.“Geo-chemical analysis of all the excavated articles will be done but we can say with certainty that a human settlement flourished here,” added Bhandari.