Kalibangan

Kalibangan is a Harappan archaeological site in Hanumangarh District, Rajasthan, India.

Overview

Kalibangan is an Indus Valley Civilization site excavated in the 1950s-1960s by the Archaeological Survey of India. It yielded some of the earliest evidence of ploughed fields, a drainage system, and wooden furrow marks from the Harappan period.

Historical Context

The site was discovered by A. Ghosh in 1953 and excavated by B.B. Lal and B.K. Thapar from 1961-1969. Kalibangan was occupied from approximately 2500 to 1750 BCE. The excavations revealed a lower town with well-planned streets and an upper citadel mound. The discovery of ploughed fields was the earliest agricultural evidence in India.

Features/Significance

The site contains the earliest known ploughed field in the world, dating to approximately 2500 BCE. Kalibangan yielded an inscribedterracotta seal with an unicorn motif, fragments of a wooden furrow, and a unique fire altar. The drainage system was one of the most sophisticated of the Harappan civilization.

Modern Status

Kalibangan is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India and is a key site for understanding Harappan agriculture and urban planning. Ongoing studies examine its trade connections with other Indus sites.

Verification Notes

• ASI site code: RAJ-HMG-1
• Occupied 2500-1750 BCE
• Excavated by B.B. Lal and B.K. Thapar (1961-1969)