Chandayan is a village in
Baghpat district
Bagpat district, also spelled as Baghpat district, is one of the 75 districts of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, with headquarters at the town of Baghpat. It is within the National Capital Region. Created in 1997, the district has an area ...
in the state of
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh ( ; UP) is a States and union territories of India, state in North India, northern India. With over 241 million inhabitants, it is the List of states and union territories of India by population, most populated state in In ...
in India, around 100 kilometers from
Delhi
Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, but spread chiefly to the west, or beyond its Bank (geography ...
. In 2014
archeologist
Archaeology or archeology is the study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of artifacts, architecture, biofacts or ecofacts, sites, and cultural landscapes. Archaeol ...
s discovered that the village could once be a site belonging to late
Indus Valley civilization
The Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC), also known as the Indus Civilisation, was a Bronze Age civilisation in the northwestern regions of South Asia, lasting from 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE, and in its mature form from 2600 BCE ...
period. If this proves to be true then it is a first instance that a late
Harappan habitation has been found in Uttar Pradesh.
Excavation
In 2014,
Archaeological Survey of India
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is an Indian government agency that is responsible for archaeological research and the conservation and preservation of cultural historical monuments in the country. It was founded in 1861 by Alexander ...
began a detailed excavation of the site after local brick kiln workers stumbled upon human skeletal remains. So far numerous artefacts, some around 4000 years old, have been found.
Discoveries
A human skeleton wearing a copper crown has been found. Copper crown is of thin copper strip decorated with precious Carnelian and a Fiancé bead, typical of remains found at
other Harappan sites. According to archeologist, the crown indicates that skeleton was probably of important person like chieftain or village head. Terracotta pottery, crudely crafted & not of fine quality, has also been found near the skeleton.
A burial area is also exposed containing 21 pots of difference size & shape has also been found. Human bones & parts of skeletons were also found at the burial site. Presence of other burnt bones as well as that of cattle near burial area indicates the practice of animal sacrifice during funeral ceremony. Beads of various types were also found near burial site.
Most of the potsherds found are sturdy red ware, with exception of one which is gray ware & few which are decorated. Three graffiti marks have been noticed on the potsherds. Preliminary observations indicate striking similarity with late Harappan period. Additionally storage jars, bowls and dish-on-stands has also been found.
In one of the sites a floor with mud wall was found while at another site four successive layers of floors in house were found out.
References
{{coord missing, Uttar Pradesh
Villages in Bagpat district