Abstract:
The present paper deals with the primary observations conducted on human skeletal remains excavated at Harappan site of Farmana. The site (29°02’22”N and 76°18’21”E) in the jurisdiction of Meham block of Rohtak district, Haryana, is locally known as Daksh Kheda. Three cultural phases have been identified; Early Harappan, Mature Harappan and Late Harappan, dating back to 2500 BC. In all 70 burial pits were demarked, out of that 59 were excavated and skeletal remains
of 35 individuals have been identified. Primary, secondary and symbolic burials were found within the site.
Standard methods are used for the skeletal analysis. Detailed inventory is prepared for each individual. Observations are made which includes age estimation, sex determination, stature estimation, morpho-metry and pathology. Taphonomical changes are also noted.
Unfortunately not many pathologies could be identified on these specimens, as the preservation of skeletal elements is far from satisfactory. There are 11 males and 15 females and sex identification of one individual is not possible. Other than these adults, 4 children and 5 adolescents are also present. Apart from attrition, in dental pathology, only one case of enamel hypoplasia is encountered and few teeth with caries have been found. Dental fluorosis is also seen on one
individual. Vertebral pathology indentified on single specimen though confirmation is not possible due to the weathering of bones.
Interestingly one individual (39 B) has provided evidence of trauma which shows the beginning stages of healing. Only the skull of this individual has been preserved and therefore no comment can be made about post-cranial changes. Overall,
it looks like the Farmana individuals were quite healthy
Machine summary:
Preliminary Findings on Human Skeletal Remains from Harappan Site of Farmana V.
S. Chakraborty1 1Deccan College Post Graduate and Research Institute, Pune, India (Received: 21/ 04/ 2012 ; Received in Revised form: 12/ 05/ 2012; Accepted: 05/ 07/ 2012) The present paper deals with the primary observations conducted on human skeletal remains excavated at Harappan site of Farmana.
In all 70 burial pits were demarked, out of that 59 were excavated and skeletal remains of 35 individuals have been identified.
Keywords: Indus; Farmana; Human Burials; Pathology; Trauma Introduction The accidental discovery of the Harappan culture in Indian sub-continent in the 1920s has changed perspective in which Indian history was thought to be.
2) IRANIAN JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDIES 2: 2 (2012) Preliminary Findings on 52 (View the image of this page) Fig. 1: Map showing approximate location of the site.
IRANIAN JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDIES 2: 2 (2012) Preliminary Findings on 54 (View the image of this page) Fig. 3: Primary burial from Farmana.
(View the image of this page) Fig. 5: Symbolic Burial from Farmana.
al (View the image of this page) Fig. 6: Burial number 25: Only lower leg big bones are found in pit.
There is one case of cranial trauma observed on the specimen no 39 B, male individual aged 45-50 years of age (fig.
There are two skulls placed in (View the image of this page) Fig. 11: Age distribution among Farmana population.
Harappan skeletal (View the image of this page) Fig. 14: Enamel hypoplasia on spe.