The Indus Valley Civilization, also known as the Harappan Civilization, flourished around 2,500 BC in the western parts of South Asia, including modern-day Pakistan, Western India, and parts of Afghanistan.
In the 1920s, the Archaeological Department of India excavated in the Indus Valley, uncovering the ruins of two ancient settlements, Mohenjodaro and Harappa.
In this post, we will look at the various Harappan/Indus Valley Civilizations and its site excavators, which had a significant impact on both Indian and World history.
List of Indus Valley Civilizations And their Excavators
The table below provides information on different Indus Valley civilizations, their excavators, the year in which they are excavated, their present-day locations, and the river banks near them.
| Civilization | Excavated By | Year | Present Day Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harappan | Rai Bahadur Daya Ram Sahni | 1921 | Montogomery (Punjab, Pakistan) (River Ravi) |
| Mohenjo Daro | Rakhal Das Banerjee | 1922 | Sindh (Pakistan) (Indus River) |
| Lothal | S.R. Rao | 1957 | Ahmedabad (Gujarat) (Bhogva River) |
| Banwali | R.S. Bisht | 1973 | Hisar (Haryana) |
| Ropar | Y.D. Sharma | 1955 | Punjab (banks of Sutlej) |
| Rangpur | M.S. Vatsa | 1931 | Gujarat (Madar River) |
| Alamgirpur | Y.D. Sharma & Punjab University | 1958 | Meerut (Hindon River) |
| Kalibanga | Amalananda Ghosh | 1953 | Hanumangarh (Rajasthan) (Ghaggar river) |
| Chanhudaro | N.G. Majumdar | 1931 | Sindh (Pakistan) |
| Dholavira | R.S. Bisht | 1990 | Gujarat |
| Sutkagan Dor | A.Stein & George Dales | 1929 | Baluchistan (Pakistan) (Dasht River) |
| Sokhta Koh | Dales | 1962 | Pasni, Pakistan (Dasht River) |
| Surkotada | J.P. Joshi | 1964 | Gujarat (Kutch Plain) |
| Kot Diji | Ghurey | 1935 | Sindh (Pakistan) |
| Dabar Kot | D. Rendic- Miocevic & J . Korosec | 1935 | Balochistan (Pakistan) |
| Rakhi Garhi | Amarendra Nath | 1963 | Hisar (Haryana) |
📝SideNotes:
- Mohenjodaro – The Mound of Dead.
- Largest Harappan site in the Indian subcontinent – Rakhigarhi (Hisar district, Haryana).
- Rakhigarhi has been recommended as an iconic site in the Union Budget (2020-21), with Hastinapur (Uttar Pradesh), Shivsagar (Assam), Dholavira (Gujarat), and Adichanallur in Tamil Nadu (Tamil Nadu).
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