Padta Bet – Harappan Settlement Discovery Near Kutch: 4 April 2024

Why in News:

• Archaeologists have unearthed remains of a 5,200-year-old Harappan settlement near Kutch, 1.5 km from Juna Khatiya, an early Harappan mass burial ground.

Key Findings:

• The discovery includes a skeleton, pottery artifacts, and animal bones on a hillock called Padta Bet, indicating a network of small Harappan settlements linked to Juna Khatiya.
• The findings suggest Juna Khatiya served as a common burial site for nearby settlements. 
• The presence of a skeleton within the settlement at Padta Bet hints at changing burial practices over time, possibly related to the Late Harappan era.
• Pottery, animal bones, and other items suggest domestication and agricultural practices.
• The artifacts, including semi-precious stone beads and ceramic objects, point to the residents’ lifestyle, and trade.