News Excerpt:

Researchers from Oxford University recently discovered a new Harappan site near Dholavira, ‘Morodharo’.

About Morodharo:

• The site, formally identified in January, has been named Morodharo (a Gujarati word for less salty and potable water).
• The newly discovered site at Lodrani (51 Km from Dholavira) resembles the Dholavira site.
• The site is estimated to be mature (2600-1900 BCE) to late (1900-1300 BCE) Harappan, around 4500 years old.
• It is a fortified settlement dating back to the Harappan era.
• The fortification measures 102m east to the west and 58m north to the south.
• The thickness of the wall is an average of 3.3 meters.
• It has a 10*10 meter platform on the southwest side and a well on the northeast side.
• Burial cairns, which are mounds of stones used to demarcate a boundary, are found.
• Harappan Pottery with perforated jar sherds, reserved slipware, and terracotta cakes are also unearthed.

About Dholavira:

• The ancient city of Dholavira, the southern centre of the Harappan Civilization, is situated on the arid island of Khadir in Gujarat, India. 
• It was occupied between 3000-1500 BCE and is one of the best preserved urban settlements from the period in Southeast Asia, comprising a fortified city and a cemetery. 
• In 2021, UNESCO declared the old city of Dholavira as India’s 40th World Heritage Site.

About Harappan Civilization/ Indus Valley Civilisation:

• The civilization was first identified in 1921 at Harappa in the Punjab region and then in 1922 at Mohenjodaro, near the Indus River in the Sindh region. 
• Both sites are in present-day Pakistan. 
• The ruins of Mohenjodaro were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1980.

Conclusion:

Morodharo, a Harappan-era fortified settlement in Gujarat, showcases mature to late Harappan features, with a large fortification, platform, well, and burial cairns. Artefacts resemble those from Dholavira, highlighting cultural connections.