In March 2025, the Haryana Heritage and Tourism Department, the Government of Haryana has declared that two Harappan sites, which are over 4,400 years old and part of the Sindhu-Saraswati civilisation, located in Tighrana and Mitathal villages in Bhiwani district of Haryana as protected monuments and archaeological sites.
- This announcement has been made under the Haryana Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1964.
Note: These ancient sites, linked to the early Harappan civilisation, were unknowingly being disturbed by local villagers who treated the land as regular agricultural fields.
About Archaeological Sites:
i.An archaeological site is a place where signs of past human life or activities are found. These can be from ancient times, historical periods, or even more recent times. Such places help researchers understand how people lived in different eras.
ii.According to the New Delhi(Delhi) based Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), there are 3,679 protected monuments and sites in India that are important for their historical and cultural value.
iii.Uttar Pradesh (UP) has the highest number of centrally protected monuments in India, with a total of 745 monuments.
About the Two Harappan Heritage Sites in Haryana:
About Mitathal site:
i.Mitathal first gained attention in 1913 when a hoard of coins belonging to Samudra Gupta, a renowned emperor of the Gupta dynasty, was discovered.
ii.Between 1965 and 1968, archaeologists uncovered copper tools, beads, and other proto-historic artefacts.
iii.The 1968 excavation revealed strong evidence of Copper-Bronze Age culture, reflecting Harappan influences in town planning, architecture, and craftsmanship.
iv.A range of antiquities made from terracotta, stone, copper, ivory, shell, and bone was also discovered.
About Tighrana site:
i.At Tighrana, archaeological remains from the post-Harappan period offer valuable insight into the continuous evolution of human settlement.
ii.The region is believed to have been first inhabited by Chalcolithic agricultural communities, known as Sothians, around 2400 BCE.
- The early settlers resided in small mud-brick houses with thatched roofs in villages such as Chang, Mitathal, and Tighrana.
iii.Excavations at Tighrana have revealed traces from pre-Siswal, pre-Harappan, and post-Harappan periods, marking it as a significant archaeological discovery.
iv.The presence of beads and green carnelian bangles indicates a thriving bead-making and jewelry manufacturing industry
About Haryana:
Chief Minister (CM)– Nayab Singh Saini
Governor– Bandaru Dattatreya
Capital– Chandigarh
Airport – Hisar Airport
