Bhirrana facts for kids
Remains of the site in 2020
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 Location in Haryana
Location in India
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| Location | Haryana, India |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 29°33′15″N 75°32′55″E / 29.55417°N 75.54861°E |
| Type | Settlement |
| Length | 190 m (620 ft) |
| Width | 240 m (790 ft) |
| History | |
| Founded | c. 7560 BCE |
| Abandoned | c. 2500 BCE |
| Periods | Hakra Wares to Mature Harappan |
| Cultures | Hakra Ware culture, Indus Valley civilization |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 2003–2006 |
Bhirrana (also called Bhirdana or Birhana) is an exciting archaeological site in a small village in Haryana, India. It's like a time capsule showing us how people lived long, long ago. Archaeologists have found amazing things here. These finds help us understand the very early days of the Indus Valley Civilisation.
Some of the oldest discoveries at Bhirrana include charcoal pieces. These pieces suggest people lived here as far back as 7500 BCE. This makes Bhirrana one of the oldest known sites in the region. It even shows signs of life before the main Indus Valley Civilisation began. People here used special pottery called Hakra Ware. They also worked with copper, showing they were quite advanced for their time.
Bhirrana is located near the Ghaggar river. This river was once much larger. Some experts believe it might be the ancient Saraswati river mentioned in old texts.
Contents
Where is Bhirrana Located?
Bhirrana is in the Fatehabad district of Haryana, India. It's about 220 kilometers (137 miles) northwest of New Delhi. The site sits near the Ghaggar river. This river is now seasonal, meaning it flows only at certain times of the year.
The ancient settlement was built on a mound. This mound is about 190 meters (623 feet) long from north to south. It is also about 240 meters (787 feet) wide from east to west. The mound rises about 5.5 meters (18 feet) above the flat land around it.
How Old is Bhirrana?
Figuring out the exact age of ancient sites like Bhirrana is a big part of archaeology. Scientists use methods like radiocarbon dating on things like charcoal. This helps them understand when people lived there.
At Bhirrana, the very first people lived in underground pit houses. They used a type of pottery called Hakra Ware. They also knew how to melt and shape copper. This means they were in a period called the Chalcolithic Age, not just the Stone Age.
Archaeologists have found different dates for Bhirrana's history. Some charcoal samples suggest people were here as early as 7500 to 6000 BCE. Other samples point to dates around 3200 to 2600 BCE. These different dates show that Bhirrana was inhabited for a very long time.
There is some scientific discussion among experts about the exact timeline of Bhirrana. Different archaeologists have proposed slightly different dates for when each period started and ended. This is common in archaeology as new evidence is found and studied.
Here is a simplified timeline of the cultural periods at Bhirrana:
| Culture Period | Approximate Dates | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Period IA: Hakra Wares Culture | 7500–6000 BCE | The very first people lived here, using Hakra pottery. |
| Period IB: Early Harappan | 6000–4500 BCE | The start of the Early Harappan period. |
| Period IIA: Early Mature Harappan | 4500–3000 BCE | A time when the Harappan culture was developing. |
| Period IIB: Mature Harappan | 3000–800 BCE | The peak of the Harappan city, with advanced features. |
Archaeologist Gregory Possehl, a leading expert on the Indus Valley Civilisation, also shared his thoughts on the dating. He emphasized the importance of careful study when using radiocarbon dates.
Who Explored Bhirrana?
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is like a team of history detectives. Their Nagpur branch explored Bhirrana. They worked there for three seasons, from 2003 to 2006. Many reports and books have been written about their amazing discoveries.
Life Through the Ages at Bhirrana
Archaeologists have divided Bhirrana's long history into different periods. Each period shows how people's lives and culture changed over time. These periods range from the very first settlers to a developed Harappan city.
Period IA: Hakra Wares Culture (7500–6000 BCE)
This is the oldest period found at Bhirrana. Before this discovery, we didn't know much about this culture in India. People lived in special pit dwellings. These were like small underground homes dug into the earth. Their walls and floors were covered with a yellowish mud plaster.
They made many types of pottery, called Hakra Wares. They also had simple tools and jewelry. Finds include a copper bangle, a copper arrowhead, and beads made from stones like carnelian and lapis lazuli.
Period IB: Early Harappan Culture (6000–4500 BCE)
During this time, the entire site became a bustling settlement. It was an open town, meaning it didn't have big walls around it yet. Houses were built from mud bricks. These bricks had a specific size ratio, showing organized building.
The pottery from this period is very interesting. It includes styles seen at other early Harappan sites like Kalibangan. People made many different items. These include copper arrowheads, rings, and beads. They also crafted terracotta toys like bull figurines and wheels.
Period IIA: Early Mature Harappan Culture (4500–3000 BCE)
This period brought big changes to Bhirrana. The town started to look more like a planned city. A strong fortification wall was built around the entire settlement. This wall was made of mud bricks.
The city was divided into two main parts: a Citadel and a Lower Town. This was a common feature of later Harappan cities. Streets and lanes were carefully laid out. Pottery showed a mix of old and new styles. Archaeologists found beautiful beads, copper tools, and animal figurines. They even found two small pots filled with beads!
Period IIB: Mature Harappan Culture (3000–800 BCE)
This was the final and most developed period at Bhirrana. It had all the features of a thriving Harappan city. The fortification walls were massive. Houses were made of sun-baked mud bricks. Wide, straight roads separated the homes.
Important discoveries include steatite seals, copper tools, and many types of beads. A special find was a circular structure made of baked earth. This might have been a "tandoor," a community oven still used today in India. They also had a main drain made of baked bricks. This helped remove wastewater from the houses.
The Dancing Girl Graffiti
One of the most exciting finds at Bhirrana is a piece of pottery with a special drawing. It shows a "dancing girl" figure. This drawing looks very similar to the famous bronze "Dancing Girl" statue found at Mohenjo-daro.
Archaeologist L.S. Rao suggested that the artist in Bhirrana might have seen the Mohenjo-daro statue. Or perhaps they both knew the same artistic style. These dancing figures might represent special beings. They could be like water spirits or nymphs, important in ancient beliefs.
More Amazing Discoveries
Archaeologists found many other interesting things at Bhirrana. They uncovered terracotta wheels with painted spokes. These might have been toys or models. Besides pit dwellings, they found multi-roomed houses. One house had ten rooms, and another had three.
Some houses even had kitchens with cooking stoves, called "chulhas." Near one chulha, burnt grains were found. This gives us a peek into their daily meals! Some pits were also used for making things or for special ceremonies.
These discoveries show that Bhirrana was a very important site. It helps us understand the entire history of the Indus Valley Civilisation.
See also
- Indus Valley Civilisation related
- List of Indus Valley Civilisation sites
- Bhirrana, 4 phases of IVC with earliest dated to 8th–7th millennium BCE
- Kalibanga, an IVC town and fort with several phases starting from Early harappan phase
- Rakhigarhi, one of the largest IVC city with 4 phases of IVC with earliest dated to 8th–7th millennium BCE
- Kunal, cultural ancestor of Rehman Dheri
- List of inventions and discoveries of the Indus Valley Civilisation
- Periodisation of the Indus Valley Civilisation
- Pottery in the Indian subcontinent
- Bara culture, subtype of Late-Harappan Phase
- Cemetery H culture (2000–1400 BC), early Indo-Aryan pottery at IVC sites later evolved into Painted Grey Ware culture of Vedic period
- Black and red ware, belonging to Neolithic and Early-Harappan phases
- Sothi-Siswal culture, subtype of Early-Harappan Phase
- Rakhigarhi Indus Valley Civilisation Museum
- List of Indus Valley Civilisation sites
- History of Haryana
- List of Monuments of National Importance in Haryana
- List of State Protected Monuments in Haryana
