The late Harappan cemetery site of Sanauli: evidence for Harappan continuity

Abstract

The Harappan Civilization (c. 2600 – 1900 BCE) flourished for nearly 700 years, representing South Asia's earliest urban phase. This urban phase is the culmination of a long-drawn process of cultural transformations and assimilations, which started around the eighth millennium BCE, as represented by the earliest evidence at Mehrgarh. This urban phase is characterised by several representative cultural vestiges, clearly indicating continuity from the preceding regional Chalcolithic cultures and the introduction of newer elements. Scholars have identified these transformations as the regionalization phase (regional chalcolithic cultures preceding Harappan civilization), integration phase (Harappan civilization) and localization phase (late / post-urban Harappan cultures). The integration phase, which necessitated the sharing of resources from regions far and wide to cater to regional and international demand and supply, probably fuelled by ideological and administrative/political reasons, is a clear example of the representation of all hallmark Harappan elements in widely separated regions. The integration phase is followed by a deurbanised phase, known as late / post-urban Harappan culture, representing the demise of all hallmark urban features while retaining a few elements in certain parts of Gujarat and Punjab. The discoveries from the large cemetery site of Sanauli, district Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh, in 2004 and later from the excavations during 2005-06 and renewed excavations during 201819 represent several features indicative of the continuity of Harappan culture in its elements like disposal of dead, the orientation of burials, ceramics, ornament styles, technology and the like, which is not represented in any of the contemporary or succeeding cultures in western Uttar Pradesh. Attempts by a few to link the Sanauli cultural elements with chalcolithic culture or Ochre Coloured Pottery culture / Copper Hoard is unsubstantiated without valid evidence. This paper traces the continuity of cultural elements present at Sanauli to the Harappan culture and presents evidence to understand them more objectively.