Harappan sites to be excavated after 50 years

VARANASI: After a gap of 50 years, a team of  archaeologists will be excavating two sites near Noida and Meerut to determine when exactly the "eastern limit" of the Indus Valley civilisation flourished.

Alamgirpur village in Meerut-Baghpat and Bulandkhera village in Gautam Buddh Nagar districts "are believed to be the eastern most limits of the Harrappan culture" and the last
time the area was surveyed was in 1957-58.

"We expect the excavation to throw light on this aspect as well as others of the ancient civilisation. Archaeological Survey of India last conducted a dig at Alamgirpur and
Bulandkhera in 1957 and 1958," professor Parasnath Singh, head of the department of Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology at Banaras Hindu University, told PTI.

Over the years, local residents have stumbled upon artefacts like coins, pottery and other items besides a mummified body of a woman wearing bangles in villages on the
cusp of Meerut and Baghpat districts - home to Hastinapur detailed in the epic Mahabharata.

The artefacts found are believed to date between 1500 BC and 700 BC, but have not been carbon dated.

Professor Singh said a team of experts in archaeology, geology and zoology besides supporting staff would be conducting the digs and analyse the findings.

He said the ASI had been informed about the project and its approval was expected shortly.