The Indus Valley civilisation, considered one of the earliest cradles of civilisation, has enthralled the academic community and aficionados of history alike. Excavations undertaken in several sites where the ancient city of Harappa thrived several centuries ago continue to unravel the secrets of the civilisation.
Archaeologists from Kerala University, who had earlier undertaken many successful expeditions to discover an Early Harappan necropolis Juna Khatiya in Gujarat in 2019, has stumbled upon more crucial findings from a 5,200-year old Harappan settlement at Padta Bet, around 1.5 km away, near Khatiya village, in Kachchh district.
During a collaborative expedition conducted last month, a team led by assistant professors Abhayan G.S. and Rajesh S.V. of the Department of Archaeology in Kerala University found evidence that could shed light on the role played by Harappan settlements around the necropolis in the cultural formation of Early Harappan and subsequent occupations in the arid area.
