Dholavira, the archaeological site of a Harappan-era city, received the UNESCO world heritage site tag on July 27. While Dholavira became the fourth site from Gujarat & 40th from India to make the list, it is the first site of the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC) in India to get the tag. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “Absolutely delighted by this news.” IVC acropolis is located on a hillock near present-day Dholavira village in Kutch district, from which it gets its name. It was discovered in 1968 by archaeologist Jagat Pati Joshi. The site’s excavation between 1990 & 2005 under the supervision of archaeologist Ravindra Singh Bisht uncovered the ancient city, which was a commercial & manufacturing hub for about 1,500 years before its decline & eventual ruin in 1500 BC. After Mohen-jo-Daro, Ganweriwala & Harappa in Pakistan and Rakhigarhi in Haryana of India, Dholavira is the fifth largest metropolis of IVC. Though it was excavated recently, the Dholavira site has remained free from encroachment in historical periods as well as in the modern era. In its release, UNESCO termed Dholavira as one of the most remarkable and well-preserved urban settlements in South Asia dating from the 3rd to mid-2nd millennium BCE (Before Common Era). Since the excavation at the site, the ASI has developed a museum here. Watch the video to know more.
