25 May 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

5000-year-old jewelry factory found in Rakhi Garhi in India’s Indus Valley region

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has made an important discovery by finding the remains of a 5000-year-old jewelry factory in the village of Rakhigarhi, Haryana, one of the oldest parts of the Indus Valley.

Rakhi Garhi is a hamlet in Haryana’s Hisar district and one of the earliest Indus Valley Civilisation archaeological sites. ASI archeologists have uncovered pieces of evidence of Harappan culture in all seven mounds of the archeological site.

The finds uncovered during the excavation, the discovery of several dwellings, a kitchen complex, and a 5000-year-old jewelry-making factory indicate that the area was once a sizable commercial center. Copper and gold jewelry, which has been stored for thousands of years, has also been discovered.

Sanjay K Manjul, the joint director general of ASI said, “Similar excavations have happened before and this is the third phase.” He added saying that “well-led planning could be observed there, with streets and walls along with it, house complexes, drainage systems, burnt brick structural support and varieties of pottery components with many paintings showing their improved baking technique.”

Sanjay K Manjul said that our motive is to develop this site iconically. Archaeologists have found bronze and gold artifacts, as well as artifacts, beads, patterned seal texts, and ceilings with Harappan texts and elephant depictions. This shows their cultural diversity. The discoveries point towards a well-planned Harappan city.

Rakhigarhi is a village located in Hisar, Haryana, located about 150 kilometers from Delhi. Dr. Sanjay Manjul, additional director general of ASI, said that the people of Rakhigarhi may have been the ancestors of the people of Hastinapur.

Rakhigarhi is one of the oldest archaeological sites of the Indus Valley Civilisation. Rakhigarhi was discovered by archaeologists in 1998. The archeological teams discovered a cluster of seven mounds after 3 years of digging. The third round of excavations began in 2021 with four more mounds uncovered across 350 hectares, making Rakhigarhi the largest surviving Indus Valley site. Mohenjodaro, which covers 300 hectares, was formerly thought to be the largest Indus Valley site in India.

Further, the mounds number 6 and 7 at Rakhigarhi were among the 19 sites identified by the ASI to be notified as “sites of national importance”.

Cover Photo: India Today/Varun Sinha

Related Articles

Researchers may have found the wreck of British explorer James Cook’s Endeavour

3 February 2022

3 February 2022

The wreck of Captain James Cook’s famed vessel the Endeavour has been found off the coast of the U.S. state...

World’s Oldest Pants was Made through Three Weaving Techniques

26 February 2022

26 February 2022

Back in 2014, a group of archaeologists discovered in China a pair of wool pants dating back to around 3,300...

The colored skeletons of Çatalhöyük provide insight into the burial rituals of a fascinating society that lived 9000 years ago

18 March 2022

18 March 2022

New research provides new insights into how the inhabitants of the “oldest city in the world” in Çatalhöyük (Turkey) buried...

Researchers may have uncovered the ruins of one of the largest ancient cafeterias for a Buddhist temple

9 February 2025

9 February 2025

Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery at the site of the Yamashiro Kokubunji temple, revealing what is believed to be...

More than 56400 Cultural Goods Seized in Operation Pandora V

11 May 2021

11 May 2021

Operation Pandora V, aimed at preventing the illegal trade of cultural goods, has been one of the most successful operations...

Egypt opens King Djoser’s 4,500-year-old tomb after a 15-year restoration

15 September 2021

15 September 2021

Egypt on Tuesday showcased an ancient tomb structure belonging to the cemetery complex of King Djoser, a pharaoh who lived more than 4,500...

8,200-year-old lacquerware found in China

9 July 2021

9 July 2021

Archaeologists in eastern China’s Zhejiang Province have identified two items of lacquerware at the Jingtoushan ruins, the oldest ever found...

Turkish researchers to work in Mount Ağrı believed to host Noah’s Ark remains

15 December 2022

15 December 2022

A team from Istanbul Technical University (İTÜ) and Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University (AİÇÜ) has started in the area where the...

An extremely Rare Half-Shekel Coin From Year Three of the Great Revolt discovered

21 December 2022

21 December 2022

Recent excavations by archaeologists from the Hebrew University in the Ophel area south of the Temple Mount uncovered the remains...

China exhibits 2,000-year-old artifacts discovered in Guangzhou

12 August 2021

12 August 2021

On August 10, the National Museum of China launched an exhibition featuring archaeological finds from ancient China’s Qin (221–207 BC)...

South Ockendon’s Belhus Park Golf Course: A Tudor Garden Discovered

15 July 2021

15 July 2021

Under a golf course, the ruins of Tudor and Jacobean gardens were unearthed. Aerial images of Belhus Park Golf Course...

Farmer Found an Ice Age Cave Under His Field

30 March 2021

30 March 2021

A naturally formed cave was found near the town of Kraśnik in southeastern Poland, used by humans during the Ice...

Scientists find the oldest evidence of humans in Israel -a 1.5 million-year-old Human vertebra

3 February 2022

3 February 2022

An international group of Israeli and American researchers, an ancient human vertebra has been uncovered in Israel’s Jordan Valley that...

Army Museum Worker Discovers Early Medieval Sword While Swimming in a Polish River

19 December 2024

19 December 2024

The collection of the Army Museum in Białystok, Poland has been enriched after renovation with a unique relic of great...

Carvings at Göbeklitepe could be World’s Oldest Calendar

6 August 2024

6 August 2024

Experts suggest that markings on a stone pillar at the 12,000-year-old Göbeklitepe archaeological site in Türkiye probably represent the oldest...