CHAPTER-V

_____________________________________________________________

Faunal Studies in Harappan Culture:

Region-wise Distribution
The Harappan civilization was spread over an area of 1.5 million sq. kms
and Sutkagendor (Makran) in the west; Alamgirpur (Uttar Pradesh) in the east;
Manda in the north (J&K); and Daimabad (Maharashtra) in south represented
the outer limits this culture (Map 5.1). The culture was confined to the Indus
Valley, Ghaggar Basin, Gujarat region and part of Western Uttar Pradesh and
Northern Maharashtra. A large number of Harappan sites have been excavated
in the above mentioned regions (Table 5.1).
On the basis of physical features, the territorial extent of the Harappan
civilization can be divided into five major regions: the first, Baluchistan region
(The Western region): this region stretches from Baluchistan on Makran coast to
the borders of Afghanistan and Iran. It is mainly a hilly area with Khyber and
Bolan passes providing access to Afghanistan; the second, Indus Valley region
(Central region): It encompasses the flood plains of Indus, Ravi and Satluj
rivers extending from Balakot to Harappa; the third, Ghaggar basin region
(Eastern region): Ghaggar

river and its tributries in Punjab, Haryana and

Rajasthan; the fourth, Upper Ganga-Yamuna Doab: the western part of the Uttar
Pradesh; the fifth, Gujarat region (Southern region): Kuchchh, Saurashtra, north
and central Gujarat (Anarta) and south Gujarat also. This region also includes
the sites which fall in Maharashtra1.

Possehl, G. L., (1999), Indus Age the Beginnings, pp.269-389.

145

The Harappan civilization covered the whole of Pakistan, except the

northern most mountainous area. On the Indian side, it encompassed virtually
the whole of Gujarat, parts of western Maharashtra and the western fringe of
southern and central Rajasthan. In north, it included the whole of the Punjab,
Haryana and parts of western Uttar Pradesh in the Ganga-Yamuna Doab region.

Map 5.1 Map showing the approximate placements of borders of the Harappan culture
(courtesy Dr. A. Uesugi).

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Table 5.1 Distribution of Harappan sites - region wise.

Indus
Baluchistan Valley
Region
Region
Mehrgarh
Harappa
Kile Gul
Mohammad Mohenjodaro
Surab
Chanhudaro
Sur Jangal
Jalilpur
Rana
Gundai
Kot Diji
Periano
Gundai
Amri
Rehman
Darkot
Dheri
Damb
Sadaat
Gumla
Nal
Bara
Kulli
Mehi
Nai Buthi
Sohr Damb
Bampur
Anjira
Balakot

Sanghol
Ropar

Ghaggar Basin
Region
Bhagwanpura

Ganga-Yamuna
Doab Region
Hulas

Gujrat
Region
Rangpur

Balu
Banawali
Mitathal

Alamgipur
Sanauli
Mandi

Lothal
Surkotada
Kuntasi

Kunal

Mandoli

Nageshwar

Rakhigarhi

Bhorgarh

Rojdi

Bhirrana

Khanpur

Siswal
Farmana

Padri
Shikarpur
Oriyo
Timbo
Kanmer
Dholavira
Malvan
Babarkot
Desalpur
Daimabad

Kalibangan
Baror
Tarkhanwala Dera
Burj

Baluchistan Region:
The southwestern extent of the Harappan civilization was located in the
mountains of Baluchistan. Geographically, the region is part of a vast plateau
stretching from the western edge of the Indus valley to the eastern edge of the
Tigris; a line approximating the modern boundary between Iraq and Iran. In the
north of region most of the precipitation comes in the cold month as the westerly
winds bring moisture along with snow to the Middle East and Iran.

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Map 5.2 Map showing the Harappan sites in Baluchistan Region

(after www.harappa.com)

There is a long history of settlement in the Baluchistan region, where

there are probably the earliest village farming communities of the Harappan age.
A complete, unbroken sequence of habitation has been uncovered, up to and
including the Kulli complex of the Mature Harappan. There are many identified
pre, early and mature Harappan sites such as Mehrgarh, Kile Gul Mohammad,
Surab, Sur Jangal, Rana Ghundai, Periano Ghundai, Dabar Kot, Damb Sadaat,
Nal, Kulli, Mehi, Niai Buthi, Sohr Damb, Bampur, Anjira etc. in the region
(Map 5.2).

Most of the animals domesticated by the humans during the Harappan age
are still found wild in the Baluchistan region. These include wild goat (Capra
aegagrus), wild sheep or urial (Ovis vigni), wild pig (Sus scrofa) and onager
(Equus heminus) etc.

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Mehrgarh:
The site Mehrgarh is located at the foot of the Bolan Pass in eastern
Baluchistan. This site is situated on the north Kachi plain at the foot of the
mountainous edge of the Indus alluvium2. The large scale scientific excavations
at Mehrgarh has provided a solid base to the theory that the cultural tradition of
the third and forth millennium BC in Baluchistan and Indus valley were deeply
rooted in local traditions, beginning with the very early Neolithic age. It
revealed a continuous sequence from the Pre-ceramics Neolithic to the
beginning of the Mature-Harappan stage. Seven major periods of occupation
have been defined by excavators.
Period I

Aceramic Neolithic settlement

Period II

Ceramic Neolithic settlement

Period III

Early Chalcolithic settlement

Period IV

Advanced Chalcolithic settlement

Period V

Transitional period

Period VI

Early bronze age settlement

Period VII Post Harappan levels

Faunal remains have been carefully collected from all periods but, as yet,
only those from the earliest and latest settlements (Period I, II and VII) have
been analyzed in some detail3. The wild animal remains that dominate the early
levels of Aceramic Neolithic period-I reflect this situation with twelve ungulate
species having been identified as Gazelle (Gazella dorcas), wild goat (Capra
aegargrus), wild sheep (Ovis orientalist), swamp deer (Cervus duvauceli),
2

Jarrige, J. F., (1979), Excavations at Mehrgarh-Pakistan, J. E. Van Lohuizen-de Leeuw (ed.), South Asian
Archaeology 1975, pp. 76-87.
3
Meadow, R. H., (1981), Early Domestication in South Asia: A First Report of the Faunal Remains from
Mehrgarh, Pakistan, H. Hartel (ed.), South Asian Archaeology, 1979, pp. 143-79.

149

nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) and catlte (Bos namadicus) as relatively

abundant and the less common were the remains of buffalo (Babalus arnee),
spotted deer (Axis axis), onager (Equus heminus), black buck (Antilope
cervicapra), wild pig (Sus scrofa) and elephant (Elephas maximus). A very few
specimens of fish, birds and turtle have been identified (Table 5.2)4.
Almost all faunal remains from period II at Mehrgarh were of domestic
cattle, sheep and goats, with the cattle predominating5 the collection. Seventeen
equid bones have been identified from period I and three from period II. All of
them belong to the Asiatic wild ass or half ass (Equus hemionus). The increase
is more conspicuous in the case of cattle. Cattle remains which accounted for
four percent of the faunal record in the earliest level of period-I rose to 38
percent by the end of the aceramic period and to 65 percent in mid-period II.
The increase in frequency was accompanied by a decrease in the size of the
animal, providing evidence for the local domestication of the species. From
period VII, in addition to the hunted remains of gazelle, onager and pig,
significant numbers of bones of river turtle (Trionyx gangeticus) and cat fish
have been obtained6.

Mehrgarh is the only site in the whole of South Asia, where the
beginnings of animal husbandry and its subsequent development could be
identified. Both osteological and figurine evidences indicate that zebu (humped)
cattle (Bos indicus) were present in dominant form7. These findings confirm the
proposals with regard to the indigenous origin of South Asian animals.

Ibid.
Jarrige, J. F. and R. H. Meadow, (1980), The antecedents of civilization in the Indus Valley, Scientific
American, Vol. 243, No. 2, pp. 102-110.
6
Ibid.
7
Meadow, R. H., (1984), Notes on the Faunal Remains from Mehrgarh, Pakistan, with a Focus on Cattle (Bos),
B. Allchin, (ed.), South Asian Archaeology 1981, pp. 34-40.
5

150

Balakot:
A small Harappan site Balakot is located about 90 kms north-northwest of
Karachi and about 16 kms inland from the Arabian Sea, off the south eastern
corner of the Las Bela plain. During the excavations three periods were
identified by G.F. Dales8. The culture of periods I and II, belong to Harappan
and post Harappan periods. Faunal remains were carefully collected during the
three principal field seasons (1974-1976). These materials have been studied by
R.H. Meadow and a preliminary report was published9. A distinctive faunal
collection characterizes each of the major cultural periods at Balakot. The
Balakotian assemblage is dominated by cattle remains, which constitute about
75 percent of the mammalian remains. Sheep, goat, gazelle (Gazella dorcas),
pig and onager are the other species present. (Table 5.2)
Less faunal remains were collected from Harappan periods as compared
to Baluchistan region. In this total assemblage, cattle bones have been identified
to the tune of 40 percent. Added to the domestic stock was the water buffalo
(Babalus bubalis), while in addition to gazelle, nilgai were hunted. From the
faunal remains, it is clear that the population of Harappan period was willingly
able to tap a much wider range of resources than their predecessors at the site.
Whereas the Balakotian people probably grazed their cattle and dominated
herd in the alluvial area immediately around the site and hunted gazelle in the
same restricted habitat.

The Harappan inhabitants were able to effectively

exploit not only that environment but also the mangrove, swamps, creeks and

Dales, G. F., (1974), Excavation at Balakot, Pakistan, 1973, Journal of Field Archaeology, 1, pp. 2-22 and The
Balakot Project: Summary of Four Years of Excavations in Pakistan (1979), M. Taddei (ed.), South Asian
Arrchaeology 1977, pp. 241-74.
9
Meadow, R. H., (1979), Prehistoric Subsistence at Balakot: Initial Consideration of the Faunal Remains, M.
Taddei (ed.), South Asian Arrchaeology 1977, pp. 275-315.

151

open sea coast, thus adding a completely new dimension to the nutritional
energetic base of the settlement10.

Kili Gul Mohammad:

The site Kili Gul Mohammad is situated 3 kms northeast of Quetta, in
Baluchistan. It was excavated by W.A. Fairservis in 1950-51, and a four period
culture-sequence was obtained. The period designations are lettered from A to J.
Period G to J are prehistoric and A to F historical. Its lowest cultural level
represent a relatively settled community which lived in mud huts and used
stones and bone-tools with no traces of agriculture and pottery11.
The excavations brought to light about 15,000 animal bones, of which
about 200 belong to wild animals. The bones of sheep and goat were most
frequent and were found in all phases (J to G). From the age of teeth it seems
that many of the animals were killed when they were less than two years old.
The rest of the animals attained maturity12. The identifier notes that possibly
some of the horn fragments belonged to the ibex, but he further to adds that
there is no certain way to establish it without better evidence13.
Commenting on these finds, R. Conard remarks that there are three factors
which make it difficult to be sure of domestication: (1) the presence of the
Sabre-horned Bezoar goat (Capraaegagrus Erxleben) in north-west India the
main ancestor of the domestic goat; the presence also of the Markhor (Capra
falconezi); (2) the wild sheep living in Baluchistan being the ancestor of most of
the domestic sheep breeds; and (3) the difficulties arising in connection with the
10

Meadow, R. H., (1987), Faunal Exploitation Patterns in Eastern Iran and Baluchistan: A Review of Recent
Investigations, E. Curaverunt and G. G. Lanciotti, (eds.), Orientalia Iosephi Tucci Memoriae Dicata, Serie
Orientale Roma, LVI, 2, pp. 881-916.
11
Fairservis, W. A., (1956), Excavations in the Quetta Valley, West Pakistan, Anthropological Papers on the
American Museum, Natural. History., Vol. 45, Part 2, pp. 169-402.
12
Ibid, p. 382
13
Ibid, p. 382, fig. 2.

152

differentiation of the bones of primitive domestic goats and sheep from those of
wild animals14. Cattle remains were encountered at all levels. But in quantity
they were never as great as those of goat and sheep. The remains from phase H
upwards have been ascribed to Bos indicus. It is not known whether the bones of
phases I to J belong to wild or domestic cattle15. A small number of Equine
bones were found from the period J to G. They have been identified as those of
Equus hemionus, the onager (Table 5.2)16.
Remains of wild animals like deer, gazelle and fox are available in very
small quantities. Surprisingly their bones found in the earlier periods do not
exceed those reported from the later periods.

Table 5.2 Faunal assemblage in Baluchistan Region from Harappan sites:

Domestic And Wild Animals

MRH

KGM

BLT

Bos indicus (Cattle)

Bubalus bubalis (Buffalo)

Capra hircus (Goat)

Ovis aries (Sheep)

Sus domesticus (Pig)

Bos sq. (Cattle)

Bublus arnee (Buffalo)

Borelaphus tragocamelus (Nilgai)

Antilop cervicapra (Black-Duck)

Gazella Bennetti; (Chinkara)

Axis axis (Chital)

14

Paddayya, K., (1974), The domestic animals in the early cultures of India (Summary of R. Conard, 1966, Die
Haustiere in den fruhen Kulturen indeins), Journal of Indian History, Vol. 52, pp. 75-87.
15
Ibid,
16
Ibid, p. 382, fig. 6.

153

Sus scrofa (Pig)

Equus hemionus (Onager)

Cervus duvauceli (Barasingha)

Note: P= present, D= doubtful

MRH = Mehrgarh III-VII; KGM = Kile Gul Mohammad; BLT = Balakot.

Indus Valley Region:

The Indus Valley region of the Harappan civilization is an area of central
importance and is the largest of all the regions. The geographical area of the
Indus valley corresponds to the Greater Indus Valley17, which is essentially
the arid, or arid-savanna, or the alluvial plain of the Indus river system. This
extends from the Himalaya in the north to the Arabian Sea in the south. To the
west it is bordered by the Baluchistan and on the east by bay of the northwest of
Ghaggar river. This region was the first of the discovered Harappan sites like
Harappa and Mohenjodaro, later followed by hundred of sites discovered by
several scholars.
The Indus valley region would have been the home to the lowland species
of mammals of the Greater Indus region; the elephant and rhinoceros along with
the lion and tiger, as well as other cats were there. The Indus river, and it lakes
and tributaries would have abounded with fish, which appear to have been
important in the subsistence regime all though the Harappan age18.

Mohenjodaro:
Mohenjodaro is the best-known and the most studied site in different
aspects by various scholars. The site is situated on the right bank of the Indus
river in Larkana district of Sindh in Pakistan (although at present the river is
17

Mughal, M. R., (1970), The Early Harappan Period in the Great Indus Valley and Baluchistan. Ph. D.
Dissertation, Department of Anthropology, University of Pennsylvania.
18
Possehl, G. L., (1999), Indus Age: The Beginnings, pp. 275-78.

154

nearly 5 kms away from the mounds but there is evidence to suggest that in
ancient time it flowed very close to them). Sir John Marshall was the first to
carry out excavations at Mohenjodaro and published his results under the title
Mohenjodaro and Indus civilization (1931). E.J.H. Mackay, continued the
excavation and published, Further Excavation at Mohenjodaro (1938). Sir
Mortimer Wheeler also did some excavations there in 1950 but did not publish
any formal report. This was first archaeological site where the first report on
animal remains studied by R. B. S. Sewell and B. S. Guha19 appeared.
In almost every instance, the remains were extremely fragile and
fragmentary. In most of the bones the organic material had completely
disappeared20. Thirty seven species have been identified in the collection. But if
one includes the Polyzoan and Sponge, growing on the Mullusc Fasciolaria, and
Anatinid Mollusc living in the coral then thirty nine different species were in the
collection21. Several of these were domesticated or semi domesticated and wild
animals. Quite a large number of animals seem to have been domesticated.
Actual skeletal remains of humped bull (Bos Indicus L.), buffalo (Bos bubalis
L.), sheep (Ovis sp.), pig (Sus cristatus), camel (Camelus dromedarius L.),
elephant (Elephas maximus), dog (Canis familiaris L.) and fowl (Gollus sq.)
have been found (Table 5.4).
The considerable frequency with which the remains of Bos indicus have
been met with during the excavations indicates that the inhabitants of
Mohenjodaro had large herd of this animal22. Sewell and Guha are not sure
whether the horse was really domesticated because the horse bones have been
found near the surface (within less than 2 feet).
19

Sewell, R. B. S. and B.S. Guha, (1931), Zoological Remains, Sir J. Marshall (ed.), Mohenjodaro and Indus
Civilization, Vol. II, pp. 649-73.
20
Ibid, p. 649.
21
Sewell, R. B. S. and B. S. Guha, (1931), Op. Cit., p. 650.
22
Ibid, p. 669.

155

Sewell and Guha are not sure whether the pig and fowl were really
domesticated23. Fish (different variety) bones with cut marks on them suggest
that they were used for food. The presence of the remains of a number of other
aquatic animals such as the gharial, and turtles in burnt condition indicates that
they were undoubtedly articles of diet24. Many wild animal remains were found
such sambar, hog deer, Kashmir stage and chital.

Harappa:
The Harappa is situated in Sahiwal District of Punjab (Pakistan),
Harappan region extends over a circuit of 6 km on the left bank of the Ravi.
Faunal remains were collected from almost all pockets and area. The Harappan
faunal material was worked out by B. Prashad25, who identified 30 species in the
collection. This was the second major report on animal remains of the Harappan
Culture after the report on Mohenjodaro by R.B.S. Swell and B.S. Guha.
Prashad identified 30 species in the collection; of these are 4 invertebrates
and 26 vertebrate. Many domestic animals were found at Harappa. The cattle or
ox (Bos indicus) from Harappa have been identified in two main distinct types;
first, a large massive humped (Zebu) and secondly, a humpless, smaller form
with short horns. Unfortunately very few remains of water buffalo (Bublus
bublis) were recovered from Harappa, but even with this material there can be
no doubt that this animal were also domesticated by the Indus valley inhabitants.
Sheep and goats (Ovis aries, Capra hircus) bones were identified and Prashad
suggests that these animals played an important part in domestication process of
Harappa people (Table 5.4). The domestic pig remains were collected from
23

Ibid, pp.68-69.
Ibid, p. 670.
25
Prashad, B., (1936), Animal remains from Harappan, MOASI, No. 51.
24

156

Harappa. Only three fragments of the camel have been found from this site. The
remains of cat were also recorded. Prashad opines that the Harappan cat is the
first representative of the domestic cat in the sub-continent. The domestic dog
remains were collected from this site. Prashad suggests that the grey-hound type
dog were present at Harappa. The domestic ass, the remains of which have been
found at Harappa, in view of its close relationship with the African species, is
considered as having been imported to the Indus valley from Africa26.
Bhola Nath has identified the remains of the horse (Equus caballus) and
the Indian elephant (Elephas maximus) from the unworked collection from
Harappa, lying with the zoological survey of India. The horse remains were
obtained from Area G at the site, representing a late phase. Nath claimed that
this was the first record of the true horse and the Indian elephant from the
region27. Many wild animal remains like that of lizard, jackal, wolf, rhinoceros,
barasingha, gharial and fish also have been identified.

Chanhudaro:
Chanhudaro site is about 130 kms south of Mohenjodaro, Chanhudaro lies
at present some 20 kms east of the Indus. The site was discovered and trial
trenched by Majumdar and later duly excavated by Mackay. Three cultural
periods were identified, with a clear break in between them. From bottom
upwards these are; I, Harappan divided into sub three phase IA to IC; II,
Jhukar; III Jhanjar28.
The skeletal and other bone remains from the site were studied by
Glover, M. Allen but many of the remains were in bad state of preservation29.
26

Ibid, p.8.
Nath, B., (1959), Remains of the horse and Indian elephant from the prehistoric site of Harappa (West
Pakistan) Proceeding of the First All-India Congress of Zoologists, Pt. 2, Scientific Papers, pp. 1-14.
28
Mackay, E. J. H., (1943), Chanhudaro Excavations 1935-36, pp.270-73
29
Ibid, pp. 246-50.
27

157

Many of the faunal remains of cattle (Bos indicus), pig (Sus domesticus), goat
(Capra hircus), sambar (Cervus unicolor), hog dog (Cervus porcinus) and
reptiles were identified from the assemblage (Table 5.4).

Jalilpur:
The site Jalilpur is located some 65 kms southwest of Harappa, on the
junction of Chenab and Ravi rivers. It consists of two mounds: A and B.
Chronologically it belonged to the Early Harappan period of the Great Indus
valley and has been assigned to the early third millennium BC and earlier. The
Mature phase of the Harappan Culture is not represented at Jalilpur30. Meadow
has studied the total 329 bones recovered from Jalilpur31.
According to preliminary reports, the animal remains of such animals as
the water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus), cattle
(Bos indicus), sheep, goat and gazelle were found (Table 5.4). There are no
equid remains in the collection and there is no clear evidence for the existence
of deer. A figure of more than 75 percent has been quoted for cattle bones for
early 3rd millennium levels at the site32. Fishing formed an element of the
economy is suggested by the presence of terracotta net sinkers. It is inferred that
animal meat or fish constituted a good part of the diet of the Jalilpur people33.

Kot Diji:
Kot Diji is a small rural Harappan settlement on the east bank of the Indus
river in Khairpur division of Pakistan. Kot Diji was excavated by F.A. Khan in

30

Mughal, M. R., (1972), Excavation at Jalilpur, Pakistan Archaeology, No. 8, pp. 117-124.
Meadow, R. H., (1987-88), The Faunal Remains from Jalilpur, A. N. Khan (ed.), Pakistan Archaeology, No.
23, pp. 204-220.
32
Meadow, R. H., (1981), Op. Cit., pp.143-79.
33
Ibid, pp. 209-10.
31

158

1955 and 1957 which brought to light two periods of occupation: Period I- Kot
Dijian (Pre or Early Harappan), period II Mature Harappan34.
Faunal remains recovered from the site were in poor quantity. One does
not have a good knowledge of the Kot Dijian animals. Sankalia opines that it
may reasonably be presumed that a mixed diet of wheat, barley and other grains,
as well as animal food consisting of the ox, cow, pig, deer and fish constituted
the subsistence basis of the people (Table 5.4)35. Fairservis36 notes that cattle,
sheep and goat are evidenced from the settlements. He points out that sheep do
not do well in lowlands and both goats and cattle are liable to develop all types
of hoof difficulties if kept purely on moist alluvial soil pasturage. A few bone
and shell objects were recovered. A few cattle and goat motifs were also
identified on Kot Diji pottery (Fig. 3.15 to 3.17).

Rehman Dheri:
Rehman Dheri is situated in the area known as the Dera Jat. The site was
excavated by F.A. Khan in season 1972, and three occupational periods were
identified: Period I proto Kot Dijian period; Period II Kot Dijian with
Mature Harappan and Period III Kot Dijian with more Mature Harappan
elephants37. From the early period bones of cattle, sheep and goats are reported
(Table 5.4)38.

Gumla:
The site Gumla is located at a distance of about 10 kms from Dera Ismail
Khan in Gomal Valley and a limited excavation of it was carried out by A.H.
34

Khan, F. A., (1965), Excavation at Kot Diji, Pakistan Archaeology, No. 2, pp. 11-85.
Sankalia, H. D., (1974), Prehistory and Protohistory of India and Pakistan, p. 339.
36
Fairservis, W. A., (1975), Roots of Ancient India, p. 184.
37
Durrani, F. A., (1988), Excavation in Gomal Valley: Rehman Dheri Excavation Report, No. 1, Ancient
Pakistan, No. 6, pp. 1-204.
38
Allchin, B. and F. R. Allchin, (1982), The Rise of Civilization in India and Pakistan, p.151
35

159

Dani. Gumla yielded the remains of six occupational periods: Period I Pre
ceramic, Period II Chalcolithic, Period III Kot Dijian, Period IV Harappan
and Period V and VI belongs to later occupations39.
In Period I some bone fragments were found. One bone fragment was
identified as belonging to domesticated cattle. It was burnt and broken into two(
Table 5.4)40. Bones of period II and III have been recovered from the site but
there was no work done on the bone assemblage.

Amri:
Amri in Sind (Pakistan) is an important site because of the presence of
both Early Harappan and Harappan levels. Its importance was first brought to
light by Majumdar in 192941; subsequently, the site was selected for a detailed
excavation by J. M. Casal in 1959-6242. On the basis of the material, Casal has
divided cultural remains of this site in three periods. Amri Period III belongs to
the Harappan Culture. This period has yielded the maximum bone remains at the
site; which were also studied by J. M. Casal43. On the basis of report, both wild
and domestic animals were identified as: cattle, sheep, goat, pig, gazelle, deer,
rhinoceros, bear, nilgai, garial and tortoise in the assemblage from period II
(Table 5.4). Both hunting and animal rearing seem to have been important
elements of the food economy of the people.

Thus we can see that out of the whole range of animals cattle (Bos
indicus) is the only animal which is represented at all the sites. Goat and sheep

39

Dani, A. H., (1970-71), Excavation in the Gomal Valley, Ancient Pakistan, Vol. 5, pp. 1-177.
Ibid, p. 41.
41
Majumdar, N. G., (1929-30), Explorations in Sind, Annual Reports of the ASI, 1929-30, pp.129-30.
42
Casal, J. M., (1964), Fouilles D Amri, Vol. I, pp. 2-3.
43
Ibid, pp. 164-70.
40

160

were the other species found in the region. From the following chart a
comparative picture of the faunal assemblage can be obtained.
Rupar and Bara:
In the present day Punjab of India most of the area falls in the basins of
Indus tributaries and only the eastern parts fall in the Ghaggar basin. In the area
of Indus basin a number of Harappan sites were excavated viz. Ropar, Bara,
Salora, Sanghol, Rohira, Mohirana, Sonet, Bhudan etc. but reports about faunal
remains of Ropar and Bara are available. Both sites are located at the left bank
of the Sutlej in Punjab; Ropar (also spelt as Rupar and now known as Rupnagar)
has the distinction of being the first Harappan site excavated in India after
Independence. It was excavated by Y.D. Sharma during 1952-5544.
Bara, a small village on the left bank of the seasonal rivulet known as
Budkinadi, is situated 6 kms south-west of Rupar site. It was also excavated by
Y.D. Sharma in 1955 and again in 1971 and recently one year field session of
excavation has been conducted by Shimla Circle, Archaeological Survey of
India. The faunal remains from these two sites were studied by Bhola
Nath45.The animals remains of Rupar belong to three cultural periods, period I is
belong to Harappan culture.
In all, 31 species have been identified at Rupar, from these only 10
species were belonging to Period-I as Chitra Indica (Gray) [Carapace], Trionyx
gangeticus cuvier, Canis familiaris Linn, Elephas maximus Linn, Rattus rattus

44

Sharma,Y. D., (1956), Past patterns in living as unfolded by excavations at Ropar, Lalit Kala, 1-2, pp, 121-29.
Nath, B., (1968), Animal remains from Rupar and Bara sites, Ambala district, E. Punjab, India, India
Museum Bulletin, Vol. 3, No. 1-2, pp. 69-116.
45

161

linn, Bubalus bublalis linn, Bos indicus linn, Ovis aries dolichura Duest, Capra
hircus aegagrus Erxl and Sus scrofa cristatus Wagner (Table 5.4 ) 46.
The animal remains from Bara site are all of one cultural phase namely,
Harappan but on the basis of slight variation in potteries it has been divided into
two phases viz. Phase -A and Phase- B (Table 5.3).

Table 5.3 Phase wise distribution of animal bone remains from Bara
Sr.
No.
1
2
3
4
5

Species Name

Bos indicus (Cattle)

Bubalus bublis (Buffalo)
Ovis arie (Sheep)
Sus scrofa (Pig)
Vivparus bengalensis(Mollusca
(Mussell)
6
Capra hircus (Goat)
7
Varanus flavescens (Monitor
Lizzard)
Note: P= present, D= doubtful

Phase A

Phase B

P
P
P
P
P

P
P
P

P
P

The faunal assemblage of Bara is marked by presence of humped cattle,

buffalo, sheep, pig, monitor lizard and a fresh water mussel. Many of these are
the domesticated species encountered at Bara.
The humped cattle obviously were the most favorite domesticated animals
of the inhabitants. On the basis of measurement of the skull and other remains
Nath47 opines that the humped cattle of Rupar came very close to smaller,
humpless, short- horned variety of Harappa cattle. A few cut marks on the
bones, particularly of those of cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat and pig indicate the
probable use of these animals for food.

46
47

Nath, B. & Biswas, (1968), Op. Cit., pp. 70.

Ibid, p.96.

162

Table 5.4 Faunal assemblage in Indus Valley region from Harappan sites.

Domestic and Wild MHR

HRP

CHR

JLR

KTD

RHD

GML

AMR

RPR

BAR

Animals
Bos indicus (Cattle)

Bubalus
bubalis
(Buffalo)
Capra hircus (Goat)

Ovis aries (Sheep)

Sus domesticus (Pig)

Camelus dromedarius
(Camel)
Canis familiaris (Dog)

Equus caballus (Horse)

Equus asinus (Ass)

Gallus gullus (Fowl)

Elephas

maximus

(Elephant)
Bos sq. (Cattle)

Bublus arnee (Buffalo)

Borelaphus
tragocamelus (Nilgai)
Tetracerus quadricornis
(?) (Chowsingha)
Antilop
cervicapra
(Black-Duck)
Gazella
Bennetti;
(Chinkara)
Axis axis (Chital)

Sus scrofa (Pig)

Equus

hemionus

P
P

D
P

P
P
P

(Onager)

163

Cervusduvauceli

(Barasingha)
Rhinoceros

unicornis

(Rhinoceros)
Canis lupus (wolf)

Note: P= present, D= doubtful

MRH = Mohenjodaro, HRP = Harappa, CHR = Chanhudaro, JLR = Jalilpur, KTD = Kot Diji,
RHD = Rehman Dheri, GML = Gumla, AMR = Amri, RPR = Rupar, BAR = Bara

Ghaggar Basin Region:

From Northern India, which was the eastern domain of the Harappan
civilization, relatively less information for the particular aspect is available. The
Ghaggar basin or the region covering part of the states of Punjab, Haryana and
parts of Rajasthan has yielded more than 1000 sites in Ghagger, Yamuna Dived
only belonging to all phases of the Harappan civilization where as there were
about 1500 sites in whole Ghaggar basin48. The Ghaggar region witnessed the
development of the Harappan civilization in the middle of the third millennium
B.C. These Early Harappan cultures like the regional Hakra traditions, Siswal
and Sothi cultures flourished between the fourth and third millennium B.C.
Some important excavated sites in this region are Kalibangan, Balu, Siswal,
Banawali, Mitathal, Kunal, Rakhigarhi, Bhirrana, Baror and recently excavated
Farmana (Maps 5.3) etc. Excavations have been conducted at many important
sites in this region but the animal remains

have not been properly studied

except for very few sites.

These settlements are mostly large and their cultural findings make them
a very crucial area for understanding the early development and growth of the
48

Kumar, Manmohan, (2007), Harappan settlements in Ghaggar-Yamuna divide, Linguistic, Archaeology and
the Human past, Occasional Paper 7, pp. 175.

164

Harappan Culture as well as that of the succeeding cultures. It is for this reason
that the Ghaggar region could be an equally important region for tracing ancient
animal exploitation pattern from the Early Harappan to the Mature Harappan
period.
Very limited archaeological studies have been carried out in the Ghaggar
region. As compared to the numbers of sites reported, the animal remains have
been studied and published from only a few sites. Faunal reports are available
with regard to Kalibangan49, Bhagwanpura50and Tarkhanewala-Dera51.

The scholars of Deccan College Pune are going ahead with faunal
research at some of the important excavated sites like Rakhigarhi, Bhirrana and
recently excavated Farmana also in this region.

49

Nath, B., (1963), The Role of Animals Remains in the Early Historic and Prehistoric Cultures of India, Bulletin
of the Indian Museum, 4(2), pp. 102-110) and Banerjee, S., R. N. Mukherjee and B. Nath, (2003), Identification
Report of Animal Remains from Kalibangan, B. B. Lal, B. K. Thaper, J.P. Joshi and Madhu Bala, (eds.),
Excavation at Kalibangan: The Early Harappan (1960-69), pp. 267-339.
50
Sharma, A. K., (1993), Animal Skeletal Remains, Excavations at Bhagwanpura 1975-76 and other Exploration
and Excavations 1975-81 in Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab, J.P. Joshi 1993 (ed.), MOASI, No. 89, pp.
143-53.
51
Deshpande-Mukherjee, A., P. K. Trivedi and J. K. Patnaik, (2008), Archaeozoological Evidence from the
River Ghaggar with Special Reference to Trakhanwala-Dera and Chak 86, Man and Environment, 33(1), pp. 5157.

165

Map 5.3 Map showing the major excavated Harappan sites in Ghaggar Region
(after Manmohan Kumar et al. 2011).

Burj
The site named Burj (watch tower) fall in the jurisdiction of village
Bhasamarha (District Patiala, Punjab) and situated in the central Ghaggar basin
on near the north bank of Ghaggar. This site yielded the remains of Bara culture
whose two sub phases are clearly visible in the early phases painted designs are
horizontal bands incised designs but in the next phase the painted designs are
prolific and has also incised design52.

52

Kumar, Manmohan, (1984), A note on the excavation at Burj (1977), District Patiala, Punjab, Svasti Sri, Dr.
B.Ch. Felicitation Volume, K. V. Ramesh, A. Prasad and S. P. Tiwari, (eds.), Agam Kala Prakashan, Delhi, pp.
319-23.

166

The faunal assemblages were studied by Samvit Kaul who identified

domestic animal cattle, goat and sheep53.

Bhagwanpura:
Bhagwanpura is located 29 kms north east of the district headquarter at
Kurukshetra on the right bank of the river Saraswati, a tributary Ghaggar. The
excavation at Bhagwanpura revealed a twofold cultural sequence sub period IA
(Late Harappan) and IB Painted Gray ware overlapping with the Late
Harappan54.

The faunal study carried out by A.K. Sharma showed that in both the
periods cattle predominated and two varieties one massive and the other dwarf
were present. An increase in the use of sheep / goat from the Late Harappan to
the Painted Gray ware is visible. Other animals reported in the Late Harappan
period are wild pig and domestic dog also (Table 5.5)55.
From the collection, ten species of animal could be identified in both the
sub-periods. Cattle outnumber all other species followed by sheep and goats.

53

Ibid, p.322.
Joshi, J.P., (1993), Excavation at Bhagwanpura 1975-76 and other exploration & excavations 1975-81 in
Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab, MOASI No.89, pp. 8-23.
55
Sharma, A. K., (1993), Op. Cit., pp. 143-45.
54

167

90
80
70
60
50
40
30

Sub Period IA

20

Sub Period IB

10
0

Chart 5.1 Period wise percentages of animal remains from Bhagwanpura excavations.

Cattle: - There were distinctly two varieties of cattle at Bhagwanpura, one of

the massive and other of dwarf size. The cattle population with 79 percent in
sub- period IA and 67 percent in sub-period IB (Chart 5.1), far out-numbered the
population of all other species represented at the site, indicating thereby that
animal husbandry was one of the major sources of economy along with
agriculture for the inhabitants of Bhagwanpura.
Sheep and Goat: - After cattle, sheep and goat bones formed the second largest
chunk of the collection. There is slight increase in the population of sheep and
goats from sub-period IA to sub-period IB. These animals are represented in the
collection mostly by mandibular and maxillary fragment, metacarpal, metatarsal
and limb bone56.
Pig: - The population of pig increased to 3 percent in sub-period IB from 1.5
percent in sub-period IA. In fact in the collection under study there is only a
solitary bone of pig from sub- period IA. The considerably lesser percentage of

56

Sharma, A. K., (1993), Op. Cit., pp. 146.

168

this animal at the site as compared to cattle shows that pork was not much
preferred.
Dog: -The dog recovered from Bhagwanpura resembles Pariah type. The
number of bones increased nearly double fold from sub-period IA to IB.
Horse and Ass: - The horse and ass bones have been recovered only from subperiod IB. The numbers of ass bones are just the double of the horse. The parts
recovered are of very distinctive bones, i.e. metatarsal; first, second and third
phalanges and teeth57.Very limited numbers of bones, belonging to wild game
animals, recovered from the site show that there were not many game animals in
the vicinity. Due to plenty of agricultural products and animal husbandry,
Bhagwanpura people were not much interested in hunting.
Kalibangan:
It is located in Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan on the left bank of
Ghaggar. The site was excavated from the year 1960-61 to 1968-69, for 9
successive excavation sessions under the supervision B. B. Lal58.
The animal bones were recovered in considerable amounts; no detailed
faunal research was attempted. Animal bones were first studied by Nath59. Nath
had identified two varieties of domestic cattle; first was a large massive form of
long horned cattle and another was a small form with short horns. The bones
remains of humped cattle form the largest percentage.
Other domestic animals included buffalo, goat, sheep, pig, dog, fowl,
domestic ass, camel and elephant also. Besides some wild animals were also
reported such as elephant, rhinoceros, barasingha, sambar, spotted deer along

57

Ibid, Pl. LI A.
Lal, B. B., (1979), Kalibangan and Indus Civilization, D. P. Agrawal and D. K. Chakrabarti, (eds.), Essay in
Indian Protohistory, pp.65-97.
59
Nath, B., (1969), The Role of Animals Remains in the Early Historic and Prehistoric Cultures of India, Bulletin
of the Indian Museum, 4(2), pp. 102-110.
58

169

with turtle remains60. Later S. Banerjee and others gave further input of the
fauna identified in the Early and Mature Harappan levels at Kalibangan61 (Table
5.5).The occurrence of the bones of camel fragments is significant. The find of
the camel is important because it proves its antiquity in the region62.

Bhirrana:
A Harappan site at Bhirrana in Fatehabad district, Haryana, recently
excavated by Archaeological Survey of India in the years 2003-2006, has
yielded a rich cultural sequence from the Early to the Mature Harappan period63.
A number of animal bones were recovered from all periods of this site.
Preliminary analyses of the animal bones belonging to all cultural periods have
indicated the exploitation of a wide spectrum of animals ranging from wild to
domestic. Most significant are the large sized cattle bones. In the faunal
assemblage that has been studied, cattle bones are maximum and are from the
early levels. Bones of cattle (Bos indicus) and buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) were
identified. Presence of bifid thoracic vertebrae indicates the presence of the
humped cattle (Zebu). Another animal group which is quite prominent is that of
the goat (Capra hircus) and sheep (Ovis aries). Very few bones of the domestic
family have been identified. These have been identified as Equus sp. since bones
of both domestic horse (Equus caballus) and the domestic ass (Equus asinus)
are also quite similar in skeletal characters; hence, it is difficult to identify the
species level. The wild pig (Sus scrofa) and domestic pig (Sus domesticus) are
represented by a few bones. A few carnivore bones belonging to the domestic
60

Ibid.
Deshpande-Mukherjee, A., (2010), New Light on Harappan Animal Based Subsistance from Recent Faunal
Studies in the Ghaggar Region, Puratattava, No. 40, pp. 112-119.
62
Lal, B. B. and B.K. Thaper, (1967), Excavation at Kalibangan New light on the Indus civilization, Cultural
Forum, Vol. 9, No. 4, pp. 78-88.
63
Rao, L. S., N. B. Sahu, U. A. Shastry, P. Sahu and S. Diwan, (2005-06), New Light on the Excavation of
Harappan Settlement at Bhirrana, Puratattva, No. 36, pp. 45-49.
61

170

dog (Canis familiaris) have been identified in the assemblage. The domestic
fowls have also been identified from this site. The wild animals are also
presented such as gaur (Bos gaurus), blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra), nilgai
(Boselaphas tragocamalus), chital (Gazellagazella), leopard (Panthera pardus)
(Table 5.5). The aquatic fauna and few bird bones have been identified in the
assemblage64. Presence of charring, cutting and chopping marks were observed
on many of the bones that indicate that these were contributed to their food
economy.

Rakhigarhi:
Rakhigarhi, one of the most important Harappan site, is situated in tehsil
Narnaud, district. Hissar, Harayana. This site was excavated by Archaeological
Survey of India during the years 1998-2002. The site is spread over six main
mounds which have been named as RGR-I to RGR-VI65. A number of bones
were recovered from all mounds and from various periods, but collection of
bones only from the Early Harappan level of RGR-VI have been studied by
Uparathana (Chart 5.2)66.

64

Deshpande-Mukherjee, A., (2010), New Light on Harappan Animal Based Subsistance from Recent Faunal
Studies in the Ghaggar Region, Puratattava, No. 40, pp. 112-119.
65
Nath, Amarendra, (2001-02), Rakhigarh: 1999-2000, Puratattava, No. 31, pp. 43-45.
66
Uparathana, R. U., (2011), Animals based subsistence of early Harappans during earliest levels of RGR-VI at
Rakhigarhi, Distt. Hissar, Haryana, Dissertation (unpublished), Deccan College PGRI, Pune.

171

Identified bones from Rakhigarhi (RGR-VI)

50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

Identified bones from

Rakhigarhi (RGR-VI)

Chart 5.2 Identified bones from Rakhigarhi (RGR-VI).

Farmana:
Harappan site Farmana, located in Rohtak district of Haryana, was
excavated for three seasons in the years 2007-10. The excavations have revealed
a cultural sequence from the Early to Mature Harappan periods. The faunal
studies has so far revealed the domesticated species of cattle, sheep, goat, pig
and dog; and wild species of pig, gazelle, antelope, chital, rat, hare, nilgai,
mollusks and fish (Table 5.5)67.
Madina:
The site Madina is located about 3 kms southwest of the village Madina.
The site was excavated under the supervision of Prof. Manmohan Kumar. The
excavation has revealed some traits of the late Harappan culture with the PGW
culture in all eight phases68.

67

Shinde, V., T. Osada, A. Usengi and Manmohan Kumar, (2008), A Report on the Excavations at Farmana
2007-08, Occasional Paper 6, Linguistics, Archaeology and the Human Past, Koyoto, Japan.
68
Kumar, M.,V. Shinde, A.Usegui, V.Dangi, S. Kumar and V. Kumar, (2009), Excavation at Madina, District
Rohtak, Haryana 2007-08: A Report , Linguistics, Archaeology and the Human past, Occasional Paper 7, pp.77177.

172

A large number of animal bone fragment and teeth were recovered and a
random sample of 268 fragment of bone studied by P. P. Joglekar69. From the
sample both mammals and non-mammals were identified. The domestic
mammals are higher than the wild mammals. The domestic mammals were
cattle (Bos indicus), buffalo (Bubalus babulis), Sheep (Ovies aries), goat (Capra
hircus), pig (Sus domesticus), horse (Equus caballus) and dog (Canis familier)
(Table5.5); and six wild mammals were found nilgai, blackbuck, spotted deer,
hare, Indian fox and panther. The prevalence of wild mammals indicate that the
hunting also was practice of the people.

Tarkhanewala-Dera:
Tarkhanewala-Dera is located close to Chak 86 in the dry river bed of the
Ghaggar in Anupgarh tehsil, district Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan. This site was
excavated by A. Ghosh in 1953, and in 2003-04, Tarkhanwala-Dera was once
again excavated by P. K. Trivedi70.
The faunal material from this site comprised a small assembly of 94 bone
fragments in which 6 mammals, 1 reptile, and 1 fish were identified (Table 5.5)
and (Chart 5.3). Majority of the bones belonged to cattle and a near absence of
wild animals was noted71.
The cattle was the main domesticated animal at Tarkhanewala-Dera, some
of which had traces of charring and cut marks on them suggesting butchering
and meat processing activity in the past. A few bones of sheep and goat were
also identified. The presence of bone of a young goat with cut marks indicated
69

Joglekar, P. P., M. Kumar and V.S. Shimde, (2008), A preliminary report of faunal remains from Madina,
Rohtak District, Haryana, Puratattava No. 38, pp. 222-28.
70
Trivedi, P. K. and J. K. Patnaik, (2003-04), Tarkhanewala-Dera and Chak 86 (2003-04), Puratattava, No. 34,
pp. 30-34.
71
Deshpande Mukherjee, A., (2009.), Report on the Animal bones from the Excavations at Tarkhanewala Dera
and Chak 86, Excavation at Tarkhanewala-Dera and Chak 86 (2003-04), P. K. Trivedi, MOASI, No. 99, pp. 24349.

173

its dietary use. The presence of turtle and fish remains has indicated the
additional exploitation of aquatic animal resources for food purpose at site72.

Number of Bones From

Tarkhanewala-Dera

Cattle
28%
Unidentified
44%
Bufallo
9%
Goat
4%

Wild
4%

Sheep/Goat
11%

Chart 5.3 Distribution of animals bones identified at Tarkhanewala-Dera73.

In the Ghaggar region a number of sites were excavated but faunal

assemblage of only few site were studied in the following table a bird eye view
of the whole range of faunal remains is given.

Table 5.5 Faunal assemblage in Ghaggar region from Harappan sites.

Domestic

and BPR

MDN

BRJ

KLB

BRN

FRN

TWR

RGR

Wild Animals
Bos indicus (Cattle)

Bubalus
bubalis
(Buffalo)
Capra hircus (Goat)

Ovis aries (Sheep)

Sus domesticus (Pig)

72
73

Deshpande-Mukherjee, A., (2010), Op. Cit., pp. 112-118.

Deshpande, A., P.K. Trivedi and J.K. Patnaik, (2008), Op. Cit., pp. 51-57.

174

Camelus dromedarius
(Camel)
Canis familiaris (Dog)
Equus
caballus
(Horse)
Equus asinus (Ass)

P
P

Gallus gullus (Fowl)

Elephas

P
P

maximus

P
P

(Elephant)
Bos sq. (Cattle)

Bublus
arnee
(Buffalo)
Borelaphus
tragocamelus (Nilgai)

P
P

Antilop
cervicapra
(Black-Duck)
Axis axis (Chital)
Sus scrofa (Pig)
Equus

P
P
P

hemionus

P
P

(Onager)
Cervusduvauceli

(Barasingha)
Rhinoceros unicornis

(Rhinoceros)
Canis lupus (wolf)

Note: P= present, D= doubtful

BAR-Bhagwanpura, MDN-Madina, BRJ-Burj, KLB- Kalibangan, BRN- Bhirrana, FRNFarmana, TWD-Tarkhanwala-Dera, RGR-Rakhigarhi.

Gujarat Region:
The agriculture and pastoralism are two important components of the
economy of this region. The cattle, sheep, goat, camel and buffalo are the main
domestic animals. Nomadic or semi-nomadic pastoral communities such as

175

Rabri and Bharvad make their living primarily out of breeding and/or herding of
these animals74.
In Gujarat, Harappan archaeology began in 1934-35 when M.S. Vats
identified and excavated Rangpur. After that, extensive and intensive
exploration and excavations were carried out by various Archaeologists. Today
more than 500 Harappan sites are known from Gujarat alone75. Some important
excavated sites are Lothal, Padri, Rojdri, Prabhas Patan, and Bagasra in
Saurashtra; Nagwada, Loteshwar and Zekda in northern Gujarat and Desalpur,
Surkotada, Kuntasi and Dholavira in Kachchh (Map5.4).
From these excavations a large number of faunal remains were collected
and studied. A brief survey of these studies is given following pages:

Map 5.4 Map showing the Harappan sites in Gujarat Region (after Chitalwala, 2004).
74

Agrwal, D.P. and J.S. Kharakwal, (2000), Bronze and Iron Age in South Asia, pp. 49-52.
Possehl, G.L., (1992), The Harappan Civilization in Gujarat: The Sorath and the Sindhi Harappans, The
Eastern Anthropologist, 45 (1-2), pp. 117-54.
75

176

Lothal:
The Lothal collection consists of four thousand eight hundred and sixty
identified animals remains represented by 31 species of animals which include
6 invertebrates and 25 vertebrates examined by the Bhola Nath76 (Table 5.9).

The majority of the remains are of domestic animals with the Bos indicus
being the most predominant. The finds of Bubalus bubalis are much less as
compared to the Bos indicus, thereby indicating that the Lothal inhabitants did
not maintain large herds of buffalos. The remains of sheep and goats are fairly
large in number. The finds of the domestic pig are also quite large in number. A
few remains of dog are also present. The remains of Lothal dog are much akin to
the pariah dog now found in India.

Some remains of the domestic fowl recorded at Lothal resemble the

modern domestic specimens. This evidently shows that those people were
maintaining poultry also. Two right upper molar of horse have also been found
at Lothal.

Some wild animal remains have also been recovered from Lothal such as
dear, jackal, Nilgai etc.

76

Nath, B., (1985), Animal Remains from Lothal, S.R. Rao (ed.), Lothal: A Harappan Port Twon 1955-62, Vol.
II, pp. 636-650.

177

Chart 5.4 Identified domestic animals bones from Lothal77.

Surkotada:
The site was excavated by J. P. Joshi who indentified three period
belonging to Harappan civilization78.
The faunal remains from Surkotada belong to Period IA, IB and IC
ranging from 2315 B.C to 1700 B.C. The excavation has yielded representation
of twenty two species, of which 10 species are of domestic form and twelve are
ox wild form (Chart 5.5).
Indian humped cattle (Bos Indicus):- At Surkotada, the largest
concentration of cattle bones was found in Period IC which is more than 45
77

Nath, B., (1985), Animal Remains from Lothal, S. R. Rao (ed.), Lothal: A Harappan Port Twon 1955-62, Vol.
II, pp. 636-650.
78

Joshi, J. P., (1990), Excavation at Surkotada 1971-72 and Exploration in Kutch, MOASI, No. 87, New Delhi.
pp. 12-28.

178

percent of the total collection from the period. The population, which was nearly
40 percent in Period IA, decreased in Period IB with corresponding increase in
the population of sheep and goat. This is indicative of the fact that due to some
reasons

may be drought conditions as indicated by some examples of

rarefaction of long bones which is caused by decrease in availability of good

quality of fodder) herds of cattle could not be looked after properly.
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

P-IA

P-IB
P-IC

Chart 5.5 The percentage of domestic and wild animals bones from Surkotada Period-wise79.

The evidence that a large number of bones bearing cut and split marks as
well as charred areas belong to cattle reveals that in all the periods, cattle meat
formed a substantial part of the diet. Splintered bones were also preferred for
tool making. A closer examination of the third phalanx (found in good number)
of cattle shows the increase of podosis and exostosis towards upper levels
pointing to the increasing dependence of men on this animals for draft purposes.
The bony growth on third phalanx shows that the people were practicing a lot of
agriculture that required the use of cattle.

79

Sharma, A. K., (1993), Animal Skeletal Remains in Excavation at Surkotada, 1975 76 J. P. Joshi, MOASI,
No. 89.

179

Sheep and Goat (Ovis and Capra):- Sheep and Goat bones formed the next
largest number in the collection and occur in all the periods at the site. There is
50% increase from period IA to period IB and slight decrease in period IC. This
shows that with more cattle breeding, the raising of capra got less attention and
the importance of cattle, both as food and as work animal as compared to sheep
and goat, was realized.
The variety of the domestic sheep with very short horn occurring at
Surkotada have also been reported from Lothal, Rangpur, Kalibangan, Harappa,
Rupar etc. Capra hircus aegagrus, the domesticated goat also occurs at the
above mentioned sites. Both the species were domesticated locally.

Pig (Sus):- The largest population of pig was in Period IA (3.20 percent). It
suddenly declined to nearly half in Period IB and the again rose to 2.37 percent
in Period IC at the site. It was reared for food. The considerably lesser
percentage of this animal at the site as compared to cattle, sheep and goat shows
that this animal was not much preferred by the inhabitants of Surkotada and was
probably kept only by a section of the population80.

Dog (Canis):- The presence of the dog at Surkotada was almost consistent
throughout the occupation of the site. It was being used as a watch animal,
particularly by the herdsmen. Size of the bones found indicates that the dogs of
Surkotada were of medium size81.

The Domestic Fowl (Gallus):- At Surkotada, they have been found from all
levels but surprisingly their number gradually decreased from lower to upper

80
81

Sharma, A. K., (1990), Op. Cit. pp.79, PI. XCVI-4,6.

Ibid, PI. XCVII- 4, 5, pp.79.

180

levels. This indicates that poultry farming was slowly going out of favour,
though it formed the third group of the food supply. Parts recovered are mostly
hummers, femur and scapula and bear cut and gnawing marks82.
Camel (Camelus):-

The camel bone recorded only in Period IB and IC is

represented by one fragment each. The very scarce occurrence of bones of this
animal at Surkotada probably indicates that it was not available in the area and
the lone animal was probably only a guest from the neighbouring Harappan site
in Rajasthan83.

Elephant (Elephas):- Parts of only tusks were found from the uppermost level
at Surkotada. They were probably imported from neighboring area for making
ornaments. Similar is the case at Mohenjodaro, Lohal, and Kalibangan from
where only tusks of Elephas maximum Linn. was recovered. In Indian cultural
context, it is normal not to find skeletal remains of elephants at the sites as their
meat is never eaten and after death they are buried, away from the habitation84.

Horse and Ass (Equus):- At Surkotada, from all the three periods quite a good
number of bones of horse85 and ass86 have been recovered. The parts recovered
are very distinctive bones: first, second and third phalanges and few vertebral
fragments.
The faunal material collected from different periods at Surkotada gives a
vivid picture of man-animal relationship. They also reflect the food habit of the
people. Recovery of the specimen animals, belonging to very few wild varieties
(Table 5.9), indicates that the surrounding area was not highly wooded. The
82

Ibid, PI. XCIV-5, 6, 7, pp.80.

Ibid, PI. XCIX, p.80.
84
Sharma, A. K., (1990), Op. Cit., PI. XCVII-4, 5; PI. C, p.380.
85
Ibid, PI. CI, CII, CIII 1,2,5; CIV-1,5,6
86
Ibid, PI. CIII 3,4,7,8; CIV -2,3,4,7
83

181

largest percentages of animal are those of cattle goat and sheep. From the nature
and size of the bones, they appear to belong to the pastoral culture.
Low percentage of wild animals points to limited animal hunting and it
was due to reliable plant food availability throughout the year. Normally,
primary subsistence dependence was on plant food regardless of increase in
animals, as long as the climatic conditions for agriculture operations were
favorable.
On the basis of animal species identified at Surkotada, it appears that the
terrain of the area was not much different from the present one, but the climatic
conditions were comparatively more favourable for thick vegetation and
agriculture around. But due to the marshy character of the land with tidal
marshes stretching well into the interiors, the quality of grass grown was very
inferior and generally not relished by cattle87.

The collection of cattle could be broadly classified into three categories:1. Those animals which were either domesticated or were in process of
domestication: - cattle, sheep, goat, dog, ass, horse, camel and fowl.
2. Those animals that lived in the houses in the vicinity of the settlement:
dog, shrew, rat etc.
3. Wild animals including those that were hunted for food: - nilgai, antelope,
deer, hyena, wild bear, wolf, duck and fresh water fish.
The presence of large number of bones of young animals, like those of cattle,
sheep, and goat indicate that the people of Surkotada practiced domestication of
these animals from the very beginning.

87

Sharma, A. K., (1990), Op. Cit., PI .XCVII-4, 5, p.383.

182

Rangpur:
Rangpur site is situated on the bank of river Bhadar (Sukhbander) in
district Surendernagar, Gujarat. The detail excavations were carried out by S.R.
Rao in 1953-56 and three different periods are noticed; Period I, representing the
microlithic culture (c. 3000 B.C); Period II has three sub phases: II A- Mature
Harappan (c.2000-1900B.C) II B- Late Harappan (c.1900-1700 B.C) and II Ctransitional phase of Harappa (c.1700-1500 B.C) and period III has been
assigned to 1500-1300 B.C88.

The faunal remains from Rangpur have been studied by Bhola Nath. In
most cases, the remains are very fragile and fragmented in nature and as such 10
species were identified (Table 5.9). Nine fragments of charred bones were there
in total collection: seven of which belonged to Bos indicus (cattle), one to
Bubalus bubalis (buffalo) and one to the Sus scrofa (wild pig) (Chart 5.6) and
(Table 5.6). The bones bear definite chopping marks by sharp instruments on
them, which probably indicate that the inhabitants used the animals for food89.

Percentage of domestic animals

from Rangpur
Cattle
Sheep/Goat
Buffalo
Others

Chart 5.6 The percentage of domestic animals from Rangpur.

88

Rao, S. R., (1979), Lothal a Harappan port town 1955-62, Vol.1, MOASI, No.78, p.45.
Nath, B., (1962-63), Animal remains from Rangpur, S. R. Rao (ed.), Excavation at Rangpur and other
exploration in Gujrat, Ancient Indian, Nos. 18-19, pp. 153-160.
89

183

Table 5.6 Exploitation of animals in different cultural phase from Rangpur.

Sr.
No.

Species/ animal

Period- II
II A

1
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Canis familiaris (dog)

Equss asinus (ass)
Bos indicus (cattle)
Bubalus Bubalis (buffalo)
Capra hircus (goat)
Ovis aries (sheep)
Sus Scrofa (pig)
Chitra Indica (turtle)
Xancus pyrum (shankshell)

10.

Cervus duvauceli (Barasinga

P
P
P
P
P

II B

P
P
P
P
P

Period- III
II C

P
P
P
P
P
D

P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P

Note: P= present, D= doubtful

In total 1847 fragments of animal bones have been examined by Bhola

Nath. According to the examiner, the maximum bones belonged to domestic
animals. Cattle comprised 78 percent of the total remains, sheep and goat
together constituted 11 percent, pig accounted for 8 percent, buffalo 2 percent
and the other 1 percent belonged to the remaining species (Chart 5.6). Thus, it
appears that the most favorite animal domesticated by the Rangpur people was
the Bos indicus (cattle)90.

Shikarpur:
The site Shikarpur is located at a village in district Kachchh,
Gujarat. The Harappan site was excavated by M.H. Raval during 1987-90.
According to the excavator, there are two cultures identified, Period I Early
Harappan and Period II belong to Mature Harappan.

90

Nath, B., (1962-63), Op. Cit., p.155.

184

The faunal assemblage identified at the site has 47 species of animals

comprising 23 species of mammals, 3 species of birds, 2 species of reptiles, 5
type fish, 13 species of Molluscs and a single species of crustacean. The
domestic animals included cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat, horse, pig and dog, while
wild buffalo, nilgai, chowsingha, blackbuck, gazelle, deer (sambar, chital,
muntjak and hog deer) wild pig, wild ass, jackal, hare and rhinoceros constituted
the wild species91 (Table 5.9).

The bones of domestic animals constituted more than 85 percent of the

total collection in both early Harappan (93.35 percent) and the mature Harappan
phase (87.33 percent)92. In the Early Harappan phase, 77.48 percent of the bones
belonged to cattle and in the Mature Harappan phase this percentage rose to
77.84 percent. The percentage of buffalo bones in the Mature Harappan and
Early Harappan periods were 4.28 percent and 4.61 percent respectively. The
dog was represented only by 8 bones or 0.116 percent, and only in the Mature
Harappan period. Sheep and goat bones were found at Shikarpur, constituting
5.26 percent in the total collection. The horse was represented by only 9 bones
or 0.13 percent and found only in Mature Harappan period (Table 5.7). The
charred bones and cut marks on bones, which probably indicate that the
Harappan people at Shikarpur used animals for food. Seventeen bones tools
were also identified93.

91

Thomas, P. K. and others, (1995), Harappan subsistence pattern with special reference to Shikarpur, a
Harappan site in the Gujarat, Man and Environment, XX(2), pp. 33-41.
92
Ibid, p. 34.
93
Ibid, p.35.

185

Table 5.7 Exploitation of domestic animals in early and mature Harappan period from Shikarpur.

Domestic Animal

Early Harappan

Mature Harappan

Bos Indicus (Cattle)

Bublis P

Bubalus
(Buffalo

Capra hircus (Goat)

Ovis aries (Sheep)

Sus domesticus (Pig)

caballus P

Equus
(Horse)

Canis familiaris (Dog) P

Note: P= present, D= doubtful

Kuntasi:
The Harappan site at Kuntasi, is located almost at the boundary between
Kutch and Saurashtra, on the right bank of river Phulki, in the Rajkot district of
Gujarat. The excavations conducted here yielded two main periods of
occupation. Period I - Mature Harappan (C. 2200-1900 B.C.); and Period IILate Harappan (C. 1900-1700 B.C.) without any break in between94.
Faunal material amounting more than 15,000 bones fragments were
collected from these cultural periods. A total of about 9 domestic and 23 wild
species of animals, belonging to mammals, reptiles and birds, were identified at
Kuntasi95 (Table 5.8). In Kuntasi cattle was the main domestic animal which
accounted for 59 percent of individual representation. Buffalo bones represent
about 5-10 percent in the total collection. Sheep and goat with 11 percent bones
were also identified at Kuntasi. Domestic and wild pigs were represented in the
94
95

Dhavalikar, M. K. and others, (1996), Kuntansi: A Harappan Emporium on the West Cost, pp. 12-20.
Thomas, P. K. and others, (1996), Faunal remains, M. K. Dhavalikar and others (eds), Op. Cit., pp. 297-322.

186

ratio of 2:1, Killed piglets probably belonged to the domestic species and their
dentitions have been found more in the collection. The representation of the
more meat bearing parts of the wild pigs in the habitation area suggests that the
killing site was located away from the habitation area and only such parts were
brought in the settlement96.
A few dog and camel bones were found in the collection. Horse and
donkey were reported from the Mature and Late Harappan periods. The bones of
wild ass bore cut marks and their charring suggests the killing of these animals
for food purpose.

The ratio of bones of domestic to the wild animals was about 4:1. Among
the wild animals, the bones of nilgai were found maximum accounting for about
5.20 percent in the total count97. Many of the animals bones show evidences of
cut marks, butchering marks and charring indicating human activity on them.

Table 5.8 Exploitation of animals in different cultural phases at Kuntasi.

Sr.
No.

Wild and Domestic Animals

Periods
Mature Harappan
Late Harappan
Phase A
Phase-B
Phase C
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
D
P
P
P
P
P

Domestic Animals
1.
Bos indicus (Cattle)
2.
Bubalus bubalis (Buffalo)
3.
Capra hircus (Goat)
4.
Ovis aries (Sheep)
5.
Sus domesticus (Pig)
6.
Camelus dromedarius (Camel)
7.
Canis familiaris (Dog)
8.
Equus caballus (Horse)
9.
Equus asinus (Ass)
Wild Animals
1.
Bos sq. (Cattle)
2.
Bublus arnee (Buffalo)
3.
Borelaphus tragocamelus (Nilgai)
4.
Tetracerus quadricornis (?) (Chowsingha)
5.
Antilop cervicapra (Black-Duck)
6.
Gazella Bennetti; (Chinkara)
96
97

Ibid, p. 298.
Ibid, p. 303.

187

P
P
P

P
P

P
P

P
P
P
P
P

7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.

Axis axis (Chital)

Axis porcinus (?) (Hog deer)
Cervus unicolor (Sambar)
Cervus duvauceli (?) (Barasingha)
Muntiacus muntjak (?) (Barking Deer)
Sus scrofa (Pig)
Canis lupus (?) (wolf)
Felis chaus (?) (Jangal Cat)
Presbytis entellus (?) (Common Langer)
Equus hemionus (Onager)
Rhinoceros unicornis (Rhinoceros)
Lepus nigricollis (Hare)
Pavo cristatus (Peacock)
Crocodylus sq. (Crocodile)
Turtle (Tortoise)
Fish (Fish)
Crab (Crab)
Molluscs (Shell)

P
P
P
P
P

P
P
P
P

P
P

P
P
P

P
P
P
P

P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P

Note: P= present, D= doubtful

Khanpur:
The Khanpur site is situated on the bank of the dry river Machhu near the
village of same name in Rajkot district of Gujarat. The site represents two
chronological horizons: Late Harappan and Post Harappan. On the basis of the
shape of pottery, the former is assignable to Rangpur IIB and the later to
Rangpur IIC.
The bones were collected from both the above mentioned phases and
studied98. In skeletal remains only 7 species have been identified from the site in
both wild and domestic animals like cattle, sheep, goat, pig, gazelle, turtle
(Chitra indica) and mollusca also (Table 5.9).

All primary domesticates are available at Khanpur. The only notable

exception is buffalo. Among the domesticated animals cattle and pig seem to
have been the principal item in the menu. The slaughter of young animals,
attested by bones bearing chopping marks, points in this direction. The find of
98

Chitalwala, Y. M and P. K. Thomas, (1997-78), Faunal remains from Khanpur and their bearing on the culture,
economy and environment, Bulletin of the Deccan Collage Research Institute, Vol. 37, No.1-4, p.11.

188

the pig is interesting because it normally presuppose some king of marshy

conditions. The gazelle remains are important because today no deer species is
found in the open treeless landscape around the site99.

Padri:
The site Padri is located in Bhavanagar district of Gujarat. The site has
revealed a twofold cultural sequence, i.e. Harappan Culture and Early Historic
period. Large quantities of animal remains were recovered from both cultural
phases. Here only Harappan phase has been discussed. The bones have been
identified in wild and domestic forms of animal species. Besides, a large number
of fish, carp and mollusks have been noticed. Cattle, buffalo, sheep and goat
(Table 5.9) in domestic animals have been noticed at Padri site100.

Kanmer:
The Harappan site of Kanmer is situated close to the little Rann of
Kachchh in Kachchh district of Gujarat. The site is situated on the right bank of
a seasonal rivulet Aludawaro Vokro which passes to the north of the present
village of Kanmer. The cultural sequences were identified101 as Period I Early
Harappan; Period-II Mature Harappan; Period III- Late Harappan; Period IVEarly Historic and Period V Medieval.
A large number of species were identified from this site as of mammals,
birds and reptiles. Mostly, all species of domestic mammals have been identified
cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat, pig, horse, ass, dog and cat (Table 5.9). The wild

99

Chitalwala, Y. M and P. K. Thomas, (1997-78), Faunal remains from Khanpur and their bearing on the
culture, economy and environment, Bulletin of the Deccan College Research Institute, Vol. 37, No. 1-4, p. 13.
100
Thomas, P. K and P. P. Joglekar, (1993-94), A preliminary report on the faunal remains at Padri: A Harappan
site in Bhavanager District, Gujarat, Puratattava, No. 24, pp.35-39.
101
Kharakwal, J. S. and others, (2011), Annual Report on Excavation at Kanmer 2007-08 and 2008-09, T.
Osada and A. Uesugi (eds.), Linguistic, Archaeology and the Human Past: Occasional Paper 10, pp.71-104.

189

animals have also cat, porcupine, hare and house rat. A number of bones
revealed the cut marks.
70

60
50

40
Mature Harappan

30

Late Harappan

20
10

0
Cattle/Buffalo Sheep/Goat

Others
Domestic

Wilds

Chart 5.7 Identified domestic animals bones from Kanmer (Period wise).

The Mature Harappan phase revealed the maximum number of charred

fragments. Some peculiar bone fragments charred at the anterior end only were
noticed in the mature Harappan phase102.
Butchering and cutting marks have also been noticed from Early to Late
Harappan periods. Cutting and butchering marks are produced during various
stages of carcass utilization and a proper recording of these marks can throw
light on various aspects of food preparation and food processing activities103.
The domestic animals contributed 87.15 percent, of which a major part (62.65
percent) comes from the cattle and buffalo, followed by goat and sheep (24
percent). The cattle bones were more than the buffalo bones in all the layers

102

Goyal, P. and P. P. Joglekar, (2008), Report on the faunal remains recovered from Kanmer, Gujarat, during
the second field season (2006-07), T. Osada and A. Uesugi (eds), Linguistic, Archaeology and the Human Past:
Occasional Paper 5, pp. 25-43.
103
Goyal, P. and P. P. Joglekar, (2011), Report on the faunal remains recovered from Kanmer, Guajarat, during
the third field season (2007-08), T. Oasada and A. Uesugi, (eds), Op. Cit., pp. 105-128.

190

belonging to the Mature Harappan phase (Chart 5.7). Similarly, the bones of
goats were more in number than those of sheep104.
In general, the economy was mainly dependent on domestic animals, but
it was observed that exploitation of wild fauna was a bit more in the Late
Harappan phase.

Rojdi:
The site Rojdi is situated on the bank of river Bhadar. A detail excavation
was carried out under the supervision of G.L. Possehl.Three periods have been
identified from this site: Rojdi- A. 2500-2200 B.C.; Rojdi- B. 2200-2000 B.C.
and Rojdi- C. 2000-1700 B.C105.
The excavation at Rajdi produced a large collection of mammal bones.
Most have been identified as that of domestic animals, i.e. humped cattle,
buffalo, goat, sheep, dog, pig and fowl and also some wild animal bones have
also been identified. In total assemblage, 75 to 80 percent bones were identified
to Bos indicus. Pig was represented by both wild and domesticated species. The
remaining 5 to 9 percent of the bones belonged to sheep and goats. The dog
family was represented by 2 to 4 percent of the total assemblage (Table 5.9).

A few mammalian species are represented in the Rojdi collection by

single fragments. For examples, the collection contains one first phalange of the
wild ass (Equus hemionus). There is one massive rib which appears to be of the
Indian Elephant (Elephas maximus). There is an enigmatic bone, definitely not
of a bovid, cervid or equid, which may be from the camel (Camelus
dromedaries)106.
104

Ibid, p. 115.
Possehl, G. L. and M. H. Raval, (1989), Harappan Civilization and Rojdi, pp.12-21.
106
Kane, V. S., (1989), Animal Remains from Rojdi, G. L. Possehl and M. H. Raval, (eds.), Op, Cit., pp.182-84.
105

191

Nageshwar:
The Harappan site Nageshwar is located on the north eastern edge of
Bhimgaja Talav in Okhamandal taluka of Jamnagar district.
The faunal remains from Nageshwar site have been studied by D.R. Shah
and K.K. Bhan. Total 4800 bone fragments were recovered from the Nageshwar
excavation of phases A and B; the bones were in general, poorly preserved and
in highly fragmented condition. The fauna includes both wild and domestic
species. In phase A, 13 species were identified both as of wild and domestic
animals. Domesticate animals comprised Bos indicus (cattle) 49.87 percent,
Bubalus bubalis (buffalo) 11.43 percent, Ovis aries (sheep) and Capra hircus
(goat) 20 percent; Sus domesticus (pig) 0.52 percent and Canis familiaris (dog)
2 percent. The wild species constituted 18 percent bones in phase A107. The
study of animal bone remains from Phase B revealed six more species which
were also identified. The collection comprised of domestic animals 63 percent
with cattle 34.10 percent, buffalo 3.24 percent, sheep and goat 24.10 percent,
pig 1.31 percent and dog 017 percent as its constituent. The wild species of
phase B were 24 percent recovered (Chart 5.8).

The wild animal bones represented 19 percent and nearly 24 percent in

phase A and B respectively, showing an increase of 5 percent in Phase B. It is,
however, of special interest that the cattle and buffalo bones show decrease of
15.88 percent and 8.19 percent respectively in phase B. This probably suggested
a change in emphasis from maintaining large animals like cattle and buffalo to
smaller animals like sheep and goat and more exploitation of wild animals108.
107

Shah, D. R. and K. K. Bhan, (1990), Faunal Remains, KTM, Hegde, K.K. Bhan, V.H. Sonawane, K.
Krishanan and D. R. Shah, , (eds.), Excavation at Nageshwar, Gujarat, pp. 145-147.
108
Shah, D. R. and K. K. Bhan, (1990), Op. Cit., p.146.

192

Chart 5.8 Identified animal bones from Nageshwar (phase wise)

Some of the long bones which show cut marks from sharp implements
imply that these animals were butchered for food. A few of the bones reveal
teeth marks on them. Split bones can be attributed to either marrow extraction or
their use as a raw material for tool production. Charred bones in the assemblage
indicate that they were cooked in open fire. Besides food, animals were perhaps
exploited for other purpose like clothing, tools, weapons, traction, transport and
as pets.

Oriyo Timbo:
The Oriyo Timbo is situated 70 kms east of Rojdi, in Bhavanagar district
of Gujarat. During the excavations were recovered a number of important and
interesting things from Harappan levels109.

109

Rissman, P. C., (1985), The Oriyo test excavation and the end of the Harappan Traditions in Gujarat, J.
Schotsmans and M. Taddei (eds) South Asian Archaeology, 1983), pp. 345-55.

193

The excavation also yielded a significant quantity of animal bones which

Rissman analyzed110. A total of 14,992 animal bones were recovered from Oriyo
excavation, of which 1,555 were identifiable to anatomical part alone and 1,201
were indentiable to both anatomical part and genus. The results of this analysis
indicated that both wild and domestic animals were identified at Oriyo site.
Cattle, sheep, goat, pig and buffalo were in domesticated form and some wild
animals were also identified. Charred bones have also been found at Oriyo
Timbo site.

Dholavira:
The site Dholavira, one of five largest cities of the Harappan civilization,
is situated on the isolated island of Khadir in the Great Rann of Kachchh in
Gujarat State of India, which has been excavated for several seasons by
Archaeological Survey of India under the direction of R.S. Bisht. Seven
cultural stages (I-VII) of the periods known as Early Harappan (stages I and
II), a long period of Mature Harappan (stages III, IV and V) and ending up in
a post Harappan (stages VI and VII) have been recognized by the
excavator111.

The faunal assemblages from the 1990-92 excavations were studied by A.

Roy. He reported the presence of ungulates like cattle, sheep and goats, besides
horse and donkey. Non-mammalian fauna included fowl, fish, turtle, prawns and
lobsters112. Further these bones were studied by Ajita Patel (approximately 9000
specimens from the 1995 season) and a preliminary report was published in
110

Rissman, P. C and Y. M. Chitalwala, (1990), The Faunal Remains, Harappan Civilization and Oriyo Timbo,
pp. 11-126.
111
Bisht, R. S., (1991), Dholavira: new horizons of the Indus civilization, Puratattava, No. 20, pp. 71-87.
112
Roy, A., (1993), A Preliminary Study on Faunal Remains of Dholavira 1990-92, (Unpublished) PGDA
Dissertation, Institute of Archaeology, Red Fort, Delhi.

194

South Asian Archaeology113. The assemblages are dominated by the remains of

domestic animals especially cow, bull, water buffalo (the bovines: Bos and
Bubalus), sheep (Ovis), and goats (Capra). There is a considerable amount of
pig (Sus) representation as well, but it is not yet clear whether this was domestic
or wild. There are a few dog or jackal bones (Canis). Among the wild mammals,
the remains of gazelle (Gazella), blackbuck (Antilope), deer (Cervids), wild ass
(Equus hemionus), and hare (Lepus) have been identified (Table 5.9). The bones
of birds, fish and rodent, have also been documented in small number114.
The study of Ajita Patel is of a much larger assemblage belonging to the
cultural stage III and IV (Mature Harappan) and V (subsequent period of
decline) from two sectors, the middle town and the Bailey (inside the citadel),
of the site. An important observation is the patterned distribution of bovine
(cattle and water buffalo) remains. For example, these remains constitute 74
percent of the identified assemblage from the middle town. This stands in sharp
contrast to the situation in the Bailey area with 51 percent of such remains.
There are differences in some other taxonomical combinations. For example,
Patel notices, a much higher proportion of wild fauna in the Bailey in stage III
and of some small bovids and pigs in stage IV, in comparison with the
corresponding stages in the middle town. This spatial pattern of relative
taxonomical abundance within Dholavira is highly significant and has been
interpreted in term of socio-economic difference between the inhabitants of
these two sectors115.
Another interesting feature of the faunal evidence from Dholavira relates
to the temporal variability in relative taxonomical abundance, particularly
involving cattle and buffalo. At Bailey, the ratio of cattle of buffalo is almost
113

Patel, A., (1997), The pastoral Economy of Dholavira: A first look at animals and urban life in third
millennium Kutch, R. Allchin and B. Allchin (eds.), South Asian Archaeology 1995pp. 101-13.
114
Ibid, pp. 103-04.
115
Ibid, p. 108.

195

constant 3:1 in stage III and IV, though a complete reverse in this ratio takes
place in stage V. In the middle town, buffalo remains are relatively rare in stage
III, but become more common in the subsequent stages. The above analysis of
Patel is of great importance and suggests: (1) beef eating was more common in
the middle town in comparison with that in Bailey and (ii) in course of the time,
buffalo was substituting cattle as a source of meat. The animal economy of
Dholavira was principally pastoral in nature involving the use of four principle
domestic animals: sheep, goat, cattle and buffalo.

Daimabad (Maharashtra):
As of now, Daimabad happens to be the southernmost site
associated with the Harappan Culture. Though the relevant, Eecavated remains
do not represent the Mature Phase. It is situated on the left bank of the Pravara, a
tributary of the Godavari in Ahemdnagar District of Maharashtra.
This site was first excavated by M.N. Deshpande and second time by S.A.
Sali between 1976-79 and five periods of occupation at Daimbad were assigned
as: Phase I Savalda Culture C. 2200-2000 BC; Phase II Late Harappan Culture
C. 2000-1600 B.C.; Phase III Daimabad Culture C. 1800-1600 B.C; Phase IV
Malwa Culture C. 1600-1400 B.C and Phase V Jorwe Culture C. 1400-1000
B.C116.
Here, only Phase II, the faunal remains of which belong to Late Harappan
period has been discussed. These remains were studied by G.L. Badam117. Only
five domestic animals i.e. cattle, buffalo, goat, sheep and domestic cat have been
identified from Late Harappan (Phase II) at Daimabad (Table 5.9).

116

Sali, S. A., (1986), Daimabad 1976-79, pp.

Badam, G. L., (1986), Preliminary report on the faunal remains from Chalcolithic Daimabad, Maharashtra,
pp. 93-100.
117

196

Gujarat region is one of the most extensively explored region and the
number of excavated site is also large. Faunal remains from most of the sites
were studied and are available for further studies. In the following chart a
comparative picture of animal represented from the excavated sites in given.
Table 5.9 Faunal assemblage in Gujarat Region from Harappan sites
Wild
and
Domestic
Animals
Domestic
Animals
Bos indicus
(Cattle)
Bubalus
bubalis
(Buffalo)
Capra hircus
(Goat)
Ovis
aries
(Sheep)
Sus
domesticus
(Pig)
Camelus
dromedarius
(Camel)
Canis
familiaris
(Dog)
Equus
caballus
(Horse)
Equus asinus
(Ass)

LTL

SRD

RNR

SIR

KNS

KNR

PDR

KMR

RJD

NGR

OTB

DLR

MLN

BBT

DBD

Elelphas
maximus
(Elephant)
Gallus gallus
(Fowl)
Wild
animals
Bos
sq.
(Cattle)
Bublus arnee
(Buffalo)
Boselaphus
tragocamelus
(Nilgai)

P
P

P
P

P
P

D
P

P
P

D
P

P
P

197

Tetracerus
quadricornis
(?)
(Chowsingha)
Antilop
cervicapra
(Black-Duck)
Gazella
Bennetti
(Chinkara)
Axis
axis
(Chital)
Axis porcinus
(?)(Hog deer)
Cervus
unicolor
(Sambar)
Cervus
duvauceli (?)
(Barasingha)
Muntiacus
muntjak (?)
(Barking
Deer)
Sus
scrofa
(Pig)
Canis lupus
(?) (wolf)

P
P

D
P

P
P

D
P

Felis chaus (?)

(Jangal Cat)

Equus
hemionus
(Onager)
Rhinoceros
unicornis
(Rhinoceros)
Lepus
nigricollis
(Hare)
Canis Aureus

D
P
P

P
P

Note: P= present, D= doubtful

LTL=Lothal, SRD-Surkotada, RNR-Rangpur, SIR-Shikarpur, KNS-Kuntasi, KNR- Khanpur, PDRPadri, KMR-Kanmer, RJD-Rojdi, NGR-Nageshwer, OTB-Oriyo Timbo, DLR-Dholavira, MLNMalvan, BBT-Babarkot, DBD-Daimabad.

198

Upper Ganga-Yamuna Doab Region:

It is known as one of the major attraction areas for Late Harappan
settlements and slightly Mature Harappan civilization. Presently, it is the
western part of modern Uttar Pradesh which is watered by the Yamuna river
system and as such it is mainly comprised of the region circumscribed by
Hindon, Kali Nadi and many other smaller tributaries of the Yamuna river
system. But the Harappan inhabitants did not venture across the Ganges to the
east. Although there is one Early Harappan site at Nawanbans, just east of the
Yamuna in Saharanpur District, yet the process had begun in an earlier era118.
Sites like Hulas, Alamgirpur, Mandoli, Bhorgarh (Map 5.5), etc. which
have been excavated in the past have shown affinity with the Harappan
civilization and revealed Late Harappan form. In addition to the Late Harappan
sites, this region also hosts a large number of sites where the Ochre coloured
pottery is found. It is in this regional setting that a most important Late
Harappan site at Sanauli was excavated by D.V. Sharma119.

118

Possehl, G. L., (1999), Op. cit., p. 358.

Sharma, D.V. and others, (2006), Excavation at Sanauli 2005-06: A Harappan necropolis in the Upper GangaYamuna Doab, Puratattava No.36, pp.66-79.
119

199

Map 5.5 Map showing Harappan sites in Ganga- Yamuna Doab (after Tewari, 2004)

Alamgirpur:
Alamgirpur, a small Harappan site, was discovered in Meerut district in
1959. It was the first Harappan site to have been found into the Ganga-Yamuna
Doab. Here, period I belong to a late stage of Harappan Culture and the other
period belong to Painted Grey Ware and later cultures.
200

The remains from the site have been studied By Bhola Nath and M. K.
Biswas120 and belong to the Harapppan Culture (C. 2500 B.C to 1500 B.C). In
most cases, animal remains from Alamgirpur are very fragile and fragmentary in
nature. The organic materials of the bones have disappeared as in the case of the
Mohenjodaro, and Harappa. Most of the bones including the long bones such as
hummers, femur, radius and tibia are fragmentary in nature and hence,
unsuitable for measurements.
Only 11 species are represented in the Alamgirpur collection. As
compared to Mohenjodaro and Harappa, this number is small which is evidently
due to the limited extent of the excavation. Altogether the number of species
represented is 11. Amongst them domesticated animals are dog, zebu or cattle,
buffalo, goat, sheep and pig (Table 5.10).
A few bones of Bos indicus bear definite chopping marks thereby
showing that the inhabitants probably used this animal as food. A few charred
bones of Bos indicus , Bubalus bubalis, capra hircus aegargus Erxl. Ovis vigei
Blyth, Sus cristatus Wagner has also been recorded.
The great frequency with which the remains of Bos indicus have been met
with during the excavation of the site as compared with the finds of other
animals indicates that the inhabitants probably used to maintain large herds of
these animals. Out of 176 bones examined 52 fragments are charred and a few
bear definite chopping marks by sharp instruments121.

120

Nath, B. and M. K. Biswas, (1969 ), Animal remains from Alamgirpur, Indian Museum Bulletin, Vol. 4, No.
1, pp. 43-52.
121
Ibib, pp. 44-47.

201

Identified Bones From Alamgirpur

200
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0

Identified Bones From

Alamgirpur

Chart 5.9 Distribution of bones identified from Alamgirpur.

The wild animals represented are cervus duvauceli civ.(Barasinga or

Swamp deer) and Axis axis Erxl. (Chital). One reptilian animal Chitra Indica
Gray (The soft-shelled River Turtle) is found. Two species of Molluscan shells,
i.e. Viviporus bengalensis (Pond snail) and Parreyssia favidens (Fresh water
Mussed) have also been recorded from Harappan levels122.
A total number of 296 bone fragments were studied by Bhola Nath and
M. K. Biswas from the Harappan levels (Chart 5.9).

Hulas:
The site Hulas, also in the Upper Ganga-Yamuna Doab, was excavated by
K.N. Dikshit123. Like Alamgirpur, it is also a Late Harappan site. It did yield a
sealing with some Harappan characters but no animal figure.

122

Nath, B. and M. K. Biswas, (1969 ), Animal remains from Alamgirpur, Indian Museum Bulletin, Vol. 4, No.
1, pp. 51-52.
123
Dikshit, K. N., (1982), Hulas and Late Harappan Complex in Western Uttar Pradesh, G. L. Possehl (ed.),
Harappan Civilization-A Contemporary Prespective, pp. 339-351; (1971), Harappa Culture in Western Uttar
Pradesh in Bulletin of National Museum 2, pp. 21-38;

202

Table: 5.10 Faunal assemblage from Harappan sites in Ganga-Yamuna Doab124.

Domestic and Wild Animals

Alamgirpur

Hulas

Bos indicus linn (Cattle)

Bubalus bubalis linn (Buffalo)

Capra hircus (Goat)

Ovis aries (Sheep)

Sus domesticus (Pig)

Canis familiaris (Dog)

Viviparus bengalensis (Pound Snail)

Parreyssia favidens (Fresh

Mussed)
Chitra indica grey (River Turtle)

water P

Cervus duvauceli Cuv. (Barasinga)

Axis axis Erxl. (Chital)

Note: P= present, D= doubtful

A careful study of the data collection in pursuit of the subject matter of

this chapter leads to the first and the foremost conclusion that many more
number of animal were known to the peoples of the Harappan culture than the
number of animal appearing on their seals sealings and other artifacts. The
Harappan people did not try to catalogue their birds and animals on their seal,
sealing and artifacts. To quote an instance cow was very much, a constituent of
their herd and it did not find place on their seals and artifacts. The
archaeologically recovered remains of animals have made the list of animals
domestic and wild; more elaborate and added to information about the Harappan
culture hitherto inferred from other sources and evidences.
124

Nath, B. and M. K. Biswas, (1969 ), Op. Cit., pp. 51-53.

203

Presence of both domesticated and wild animals is further meditative of

the fact that food production and domestication of animal went simultaneously
and it was a local phenomenon not that came to sub-continent by diffusion from
outside.

The Harappan culture was spread over a vast area, from the boarders of
the Baluchistan to the deserts of Rajasthan and from the Himalayan foot hills to
the northern tip of Maharashtra and the animals remains of the predominantly
cattle (bos indicus) followed by sheep and goat establish the fact that peoples of
the Harappan were cattle keepers on grand scale. It further conforms the
proposal that though essentially a urban and a city culture, Harappan life was
extensively supported by agriculture, animal husbandry and commerce and the
animals of civilization were, source of host of products from food to traction and
from transportation of goods to supplier of valuable material like fiber, leather,
sinew, bones and horns.
Archaeologically recovered faunal remains throw light on the ecological
changes that took place in different regions of the civilizations. Many local
animals including elephants, tiger, rhinoceros, buffalo, antelope and gharial
have been found represented on seals and sealings so rapidly that they must have
a significant part of peoples diet.
It suggests that ecology in the region changed dramatically over the
period and the region which was covered with dense jungle habitant-able by
exotic animals became inhabitable for them.
Analysis of faunal remains also reflects the dietary habits of the peoples
of the Harappan culture. Cut marks on bones of animals and slaughtering of
young animals attested by bones leaves no idea of doubt that Harappan peoples
were meat eaters. The age of teeth of a few slaughtered animals reveal that they
204

were killed before they were two years old and from this a safe conclusion can
be drawn that the peoples of area relished the meat of young animal as
compared to the flesh of mature and old animals. The peoples of the Harappans
culture were great fish lover. Various rivers flowed through the Harappan region
were teemed with various species and they caught and ate them. Large fish
vertebrae found at Kutch sites indicates that ate considerable quantity of
shellfish and then turn fish shells into bangles, beads, ladles, rings and
figurines.
The Harappan peoples had great love for their animals especially the
cattle it is evident from the fact that cattle out number all other species followed
by goat and sheep and as such the remains of cattle constitute the major portion
of the faunal assemblage of the period. Their love for bull rose the level of
revere as, probably apart from utility the bull for them was a symbol of fertility
and this obsession for fertility was reflected in their venerate of sacred animal
especially bulls.
On the basis of animals recovered from various sites covering the entire
spam of Harappan culture, it can be safely stated that peoples of Harappan
culture highly dependent on their animals and hence loved them and adored
them.

********************

205