RAKHIGARHI (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – History)

Context: Recently, NCERT proposed revisions to school textbooks, including additions about DNA analysis findings from Rakhigarhi site and removal of references to Narmada Dam's adverse effects on tribals, aiming for more updated content.

Rakhigarhi

• About: Rakhigarhi stands as a significant site of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization, situated in modern-day Hissar, Haryana.
• Excavation Initiatives by ASI: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) initiated the first excavation at Rakhigarhi during 1998-2001.
• Deccan College's Contribution: From 2013 to 2016, Deccan College of Pune conducted excavations at Rakhigarhi, adding to the archaeological understanding of the site.
• Recognition: Rakhigarhi's ancient mounds 6 and 7 have been identified by ASI among 19 sites to be notified as 'sites of national importance.'
• Endangered Status and Global Awareness: In May 2012, Rakhigarhi gained global recognition when the Global Heritage Fund declared it one of the 10 most endangered heritage sites in Asia.
• Cluster of Archaeological Sites: Rakhigarhi is not isolated; it's part of a cluster of significant archaeological sites in the region, including Kalibangan, Kunal, Haryana, Balu, Haryana, Bhirrana, and Banawali, all situated in the old river valley east of the Ghaggar Plain.