Surkotada – Ancient Indian City

Surkotada is an important archaeological site located in the Kutch district of Gujarat, India. The site is known for the remains of a fortified citadel that was inhabited during the late Harappan period of the Indus Valley Civilization, approximately 4000 years ago. Excavations at the site have revealed a wealth of information about the people who lived there and their way of life, making it an important location for understanding the history and culture of the region.

Location and Discovery

Surkotada is situated on a low hill overlooking the eastern bank of the seasonal Luni River, approximately 160 kilometers (100 miles) north-east of the city of Bhuj. The site was discovered in 1964 by Jagat Pati Joshi, a renowned archaeologist who was then the Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India.

Excavations

Excavations at Surkotada have been conducted intermittently since the site’s discovery in 1964. The site consists of a fortified citadel, an outer enclosure, and a number of houses and other structures. The citadel is surrounded by a massive mud-brick wall that is up to 4 meters (13 feet) thick in places. The outer enclosure is separated from the citadel by a ditch and a wall, and it may have served as a defense against potential invaders.

Inside the citadel, excavations have revealed a number of structures, including a palace, a granary, and a residential area. The palace is the largest building in the citadel and consists of a large central courtyard surrounded by rooms on all sides. The granary is located near the entrance to the citadel and is a large, rectangular building with a number of storage chambers. The residential area consists of a number of houses, each with several rooms arranged around a central courtyard.

Artifacts

Excavations at Surkotada have uncovered a number of artifacts that provide insight into the life of the people who lived there. One of the most significant finds at the site is a large number of animal bones, including those of cows, sheep, and goats. These bones suggest that the people of Surkotada were involved in animal husbandry and may have relied on these animals for food and other resources.

Another important find at the site is a large number of pottery shards. The pottery found at Surkotada is typically red or brown in color and is decorated with geometric patterns or animal motifs. Some of the pottery also has inscriptions in the Harappan script, which is still largely undeciphered.

Excavations at Surkotada have also uncovered a number of stone tools and weapons, including arrowheads and spearheads. These tools suggest that the people of Surkotada were skilled hunters and may have relied on these weapons for protection and to hunt game.

Way of Life

Based on the artifacts and structures found at Surkotada, archaeologists have been able to reconstruct the way of life of the people who lived there. The city was a center of trade and commerce, as evidenced by the large number of pottery shards and other artifacts found at the site. The people of Surkotada were also involved in agriculture and animal husbandry, as demonstrated by the animal bones and other evidence found at the site.

The fortified nature of the citadel and the presence of weapons suggest that the people of Surkotada may have faced threats from neighboring communities. The granary and other structures indicate that the city may have been organized around a centralized system of government or administration.