ગુજરાતી
English
14 June 2025
Archaeologists from the University of Kerala have discovered a 5,300-year-old settlement near Lakhapar village in western Kutch, Gujarat. An ancient Harappan settlement has been discovered during the excavation. The site was first identified in 2022 by a team led by Abhyas GS and Rajesh SV of the Department of Archaeology, University of Kerala.
197 graves were found in a field on the Lakhapar-Ghaduli road in Kutch, objects like pottery and copper were found.
The excavation has revealed new information about the spread and lifestyle of the Harappan civilization. Remains of an ancient village have been found in a field near the Lakhapar-Ghaduli village road. In which 197 graves have been found in the cemetery area. At present this site is a field. These archaeological remains are spread over an area of about 3 hectares.
Also read: Air India plane lands in Rajkot in third attempt, passengers die
Excavations carried out in Juna Khatiya village in 2019-20 and 2022 found 197 graves. Keeping this in mind, archaeological surveys were conducted in the surrounding areas. In which these remains were found.
Important context
The discovery at Lakhapar now provides an important residential context for the cemetery, indicating a dynamic, interconnected cultural landscape in the arid Rann of Kutch. Excavations have found structural remains, walls made of local sandstone and shells, indicating well-planned construction activities.
It is noteworthy that there are pottery from both the Early and Classic Harappan phases, dating back to around 3300 BC. The discoveries include extremely rare pottery, previously found at only three sites in Gujarat. The presence of this special ceramic tradition at Lakhapar points to a culturally unique group within the larger Harappan civilization.
Skeleton found
Interestingly, a human body has also been found near the settlement. The skeleton is in very poor condition, but it was buried directly in the pit, with no architectural or iconographic evidence.
The researchers said, ‘Apart from architecture and pottery, a rich range of artifacts have been unearthed during the excavation. Stones, beads, rock ornaments, copper and terracotta objects made of carnelian, agate, amazonite and steatite have been found. All these things indicate a connection with Sindh.’
Remains of cow, goat, fish bones and edible shells found during the excavation indicate that the residents here depended on animal husbandry and water resources. Samples have been taken for archeological botany analysis to understand plant use and ancient diet.
According to the researcher, what makes Lakhapar unique is that no early Harappan burial sites like Dhaneti have been found in Gujarat. But, evidence of settlements associated with them has not been found yet. Lakhapar fills an important gap, and provides a rare glimpse into both the living and dead sides of the same cultural group.
