UNESCO names Harappan city of Dholavira as world heritage site

Days after UNESCO added the Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple to the world heritage site list, another historical site -- Dholavira -- has been included in the list.

Dholavira, located in the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, belonged to the matured Harappan phase and was excavated by the Archeological Survey of India in 1967. 

Locally known as Kotada Timba, this is one of the most prominent sites of the Harappan civilizations. It is the larger of the two excavations of the Indus Valley Civilization or Harappan culture, dating back to 4500 years ago. 

Significance of Dholavira

Dholavira has one of the world's earliest water conservation systems ever excavated. 

Satellite imagery showed a reservoir underground as part of an expertly constructed rainwater harvesting system that extended from the walls of the city. 

Artefacts include terracotta pottery, beads, seals, fish hooks, animal figurines, urns, gold and copper ornaments, and some imported vessels that indicate trade links with lands as far away as Mesopotamia. 

Also found were ten large stone inscriptions carved in Indus Valley script, which could perhaps be the world's earliest signboard.

Fourth heritage site in Gujarat

Since 2014, India has added ten new world heritage sites, one-fourth of our total sites. 

The latest declaration makes Gujarat home to four world heritage sites. 

Besides Dholavira, the other heritage sites include Champaner near Pavagadh, Rani ki Vav in Patan and the historic city of Ahmedabad. 

• Archaeologist
• Dholavira
• Gujarat
• Harappa
• Harappan city
• Indus Valley Civilization
• Rann of Kutch
• UNESCO
• heritage site
• world heritage site
• Archaeological Survey of India
• ASI
• Government of India