Daily Mains Question – GS 1 – 19th June 2025
- TPP
- Jun 19
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 20
Welcome to your daily Mains Model Answer — designed to help you grasp the significance of archaeological discoveries in Kutch, a region that provides critical insights into prehistoric human settlements and cultural evolution. This question explores Kutch as a multi-phased archaeological site spanning hunter-gatherer, pre-Harappan, and mature Harappan phases, shedding light on early human adaptation along the northern Arabian Sea coast.
Recent interdisciplinary research, involving carbon dating of shell middens and stone tools, reveals human activity in the Great Rann of Kutch dating back over 7,000 years—well before the mature Harappan civilization. These findings offer rich perspectives on ancient coastal hunter-gatherer societies, their environmental interactions, long-distance trade networks, and the gradual rise of urban settlements. This topic is essential for understanding cultural continuity and environmental adaptation, relevant for GS Paper 1 (Indian History and Archaeology) and general essay themes on civilization and heritage.
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QUESTION 1
Discuss the importance of Kutch as a multi‑phased archaeological region spanning hunter‑gatherer, pre‑Harappan, and mature Harappan phases.
Answer: Kutch, located in Gujarat, is a crucial archaeological region revealing human presence from the hunter-gatherer phase through the pre-Harappan to the mature Harappan phase.
Recent research by IIT Gandhinagar and collaborators shows human activity in the Great Rann of Kutch dating back at least 5,000 years before the Harappans.
This conclusion is based on the study of shell remains first documented in 1872 by the geologist Arthur Beavor Wynne, who found “large broken univalve shells” all over northern Kutch.
Pre-Harappan Hunter-Gatherer Communities
Archaeological sites known as midden sites in Kutch contain marine shells, bones, tools, and pottery.
Similar middens exist in Oman and Pakistan along the northern Arabian Sea, indicating cultural and economic links across the coast in pre-Harappan times.
Near Dholavira, about 1 km from the mature Harappan site, shell deposits and remains of house complexes were found on Khadir Beyt island.
Shell remains include species like Terebralia palustris (giant mangrove whelk), whose broken shells suggest meat extraction, a subsistence pattern found in Pakistan’s Las Bela region dating between 7,000-5,000 BCE.
These findings suggest hunter-gatherers in Kutch relied on marine resources and engaged in long-distance trade.
Environmental and Geological Context
Around 5,000–6,000 years ago, sea levels were higher, and Khadir was one of six islands in the area.
Shell sites are mostly on riverbanks, 2-2.5 km from the current coast, and sometimes further inland, indicating shells were carried from the shore.
Remnants of mangroves still exist in areas like the Little Rann of Kutch, near Dholavira, Lakhpat, and Shravan Kavadiya. These areas likely formed the ancient shoreline.
Some shells show black or grey discoloration, indicating they were heated or cooked.
Shell deposits were discarded over 300–400 years, suggesting long-term use of the site by hunter-gatherer communities.
Stone Tools and Trade Networks
Stone tools made of chert, jasper, chalcedony, basalt, limestone, and quartzite were found at multiple sites on Khadir island, such as Laungwali, Kunduwari, and Ganeshpar.
Smaller stones possibly served as arrow tips, showing hunting activities.
Except for agate (available locally near Amarapar village), these stones are non-local, indicating the existence of trade or exchange networks.
These findings align with archaeological evidence from the Karachi coast and Oman, suggesting a wider interaction zone along the northern Arabian Sea.
Chronological Significance
Radiocarbon dating of 15 shell samples from Khadir island shows human presence from about 5,500 to 5,000 years ago—well before the mature Harappan period (c. 2600–1900 BCE).
The Harappan site of Dholavira dates from approximately 3,300 BCE to 1,400 BCE.
This timeline confirms a cultural continuum: pre-Harappan hunter-gatherers gradually gave way to settled Harappan urban centres.
Conclusion
Kutch is a significant multi-phased archaeological landscape, showing continuous human occupation from early coastal hunter-gatherer societies to the urban Harappan civilization.
These early communities adapted to the unique mangrove and coastal environment, relying on marine shells like the giant mangrove whelk for food.
They used stone tools, participated in trade networks across the northern Arabian Sea, and possibly cooked shellfish.
The region offers vital clues about the cultural evolution leading to the Harappan civilization.
Further studies on soil samples, flora, and continued excavations will deepen our understanding of these prehistoric communities and their environment.
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