Chapter-1

Introduction

Proto-History refers to a period between pre-history and history. It is generally

understood that Proto-History is the period when the knowledge of writing was there but
we are unable to read it. However, Stuart Piggott (1950) suggested that the distinction
between history and pre-history in India is a peculiarly elusive one. The reasons for his
remark are, while the Pre-history of Western Asiatic countries like Mesopotamia, Egypt
etc. ended immediately after 3000 B. C. when records of dynasties, King-lists came to be
written which can be interpreted to form the outline of a fairly reliable chronology in
terms of years before the Christian era while in India although writing was known in the
third millennium B.C. as is evident from the Indus seals these have not yet been
deciphered to help us in preparing an outline of a reliable chronology in terms of years. In
India Proto-History spans the period around from 3000 B.C. to 600 B.C. covering the
Bronze Age and Chalcolithic culture from the beginning of Harappan civilization up to
the beginning of the historical period in 6th century B.C. which is the period of Buddha
and Mahavira. The sites having the archaeological remains of Harappans, Ochre colour
Pottery (OCP), Painted Grey Ware (PGW) and Chalcolithic culture, are included in
proto-historic period and they are called proto- historic settlements. However, above said
statement seems misleading because it is not applicable to whole period which falls
between Pre-History and Historic phase in India, like Painted Gray Ware Phase, OCP,
and Chalcolithic cultures don’t have the written record. In this perspective, M.K.
Dhavlikar suggests that literary evidence is available but there is no archaeological
evidence to corroborate it, for instance the evidence of the Vedic literature (Dhavalikar
1997: ix). Furthermore, it may be interpreted in terms that an oral literary tradition was
existed but they had not a writing script or skill.

In this research Endeavour, Proto-Historical period is designated as the starting of

the use of metal by human with the continuity of lithic-industry to the beginning of
understandable written recoded. It can be divided into three categories on the basis of
metallurgical development firstly Charcolithic phase, secondly Bronze Age and finally
Iron Age. And, in this context duration of period which is tied around 7000 B.C. to 600

1
B.C. in India should be considered in proto-historic period divided into above said
categories.

Origin and Course of the Chautang River

Chautang is a seasonal river which originates from the Siwalik foot hills in the
north of Sadhaura and Bilashpur in district Yamunanagar (Haryana). There are two
streams coming down from foot hills which recognized as Chautang eastern streams
passes through the village Manglore, Machroli and Marwakalan in Bilaspur block (YNR)
while western stream runs near village of the Pipliwala, Udhamgarh, Rattuwla and
Saravi. Thereafter both streams mingle at Aajijpur village and then Chautang River runs
parallel with the Saraswati river up to the village Badipabni (Yamunanagar) before
reaching Ladwa (Kurukshetra) then it enters Karnal district at Bairsal village and
Chautang river crosses the NH1 near Nilokheri. After that, it passes Nissing and Assandh
in district Karnal before entering Jind district, then moves toward Hansi, Hissar and
reaches Rajasthan and joins the Saraswati (at present Ghaggar) in Suratgarh, near
Kalibangan (Hanumangarh) archaeological site (Balbadra 1976). However Chautang is
identified with ancient Darishadwati River which is already mentioned in the Rig Veda
together with Saraswati and Apaya (R.V.2.23. 4) and Manu Samriti, describes that
Darishadwati and the Saraswati define the boundary of Brahmavarta (Manu Samriti 2.17)
in addition to that according to Mahabharata and Vamanpurana, the land, which lies
between Saraswati and Darishadwati rivers, is called Kurukshetra (Kesarwani 2008).
Apart from these several fragrances are found in ancient texts regarding Darishadwati
like the Latyana Srautsutra (10.17) describes it as a seasonal river, with the Saraswati a
perennial river until its vinasana (10.15-19).

However, Chautang is identified by the C.F. Oldham (1893) as Ancient

Darishadwati which was the eastern tributary of sacred river Saraswati/Hakra and he
write Chautang for Chautng as well as Oldham suggested, if Jamuna (Yamuna) was
flowed westerly could be though the course of Chautang. There after Kar & Ghose
(1984) also recognized the Chautang in form the ancient Darishadwati and the eastern
tributary of Saraswati while Balbadra (1976) suggested about the Chautang that it was the
major tributary of Darishadwati. According to K.S. Valdiya (2002:27) it was the eastern

2
tributary of Saraswati and he considers it as the ancient Darishadwati Rivers. Some
scholars suggest that Darishadwati took water whole year from Saraswati glacier, but the
Yamuna tear fault broke the link of Darishadwati to the glacier and after tear fault
Darishadwati flows only in the rainy season (Puri 2009:49). Yaldiya (2002:28) also stated
that Yamuna occupied the water of Chautang. One more source of water of Chautang was
Rakshi River, it is a small stream which originates from the plain of Shahpur near
Bilaspur block (Yamunanagar) and it joins the Chautang near Ladwa (Kurukshetra) and
is also a seasonal river (Joshi 2003). However, Chautang (Old Darishadwati) has very
important place in the history. It is the eastern tributary of Vedic river Saraswati (Valdiya
2002:27). According to the major religious work Srimad Bhagavatam, the Darishadwati
is one of the many transcendental rivers in India. The Darishadvati River is already

Fig.1.1. Course of Chautang River in Haryana and Rajasthan (After

Garge 2011)

3
mentioned in the Rig Veda together with Saraswati and Apaya (R.V.2.23. 4). In Manu
Samriti, this river and the Saraswati River define the boundary of Brahmavarta (Manu
Samriti 2.17). According to Mahabharata and Vamanpurana, the land, which lies
between Saraswati and Darishadwati rivers, is called Kurukshetra (Kesarwani 2008).

Study Area

Present research focused on upper Chautang (Ancient Darishadwati) Valley

which includes Yamunanagar, Eastern Kurukshetra, Karnal and some parts of Kaithal

Fig.1.2. Study Area (Upper Chautang Valley)

4
and Panipat Districts. This alluvial plain is constructed by the Chautang, Saraswati
Rakshi and Yamuna and broadly, it is the part of Indo-Gangetic plain and at further sub
division it fall under the Sutlej-Yamuna divide. Study area lies between 300 28' 02" and
760 27’ 43” North and 290 29' 54" and 760 55' 41" East; its height from sea level is around
240 to 350 meters and occupied approximately an area of 4681 km2. The research area is
bounded by Kaithal & Ambala district on its north-west, Jind & Kaithal districts on its
west, Panipat district on its south and Uttar Pradesh state on the east, north side is
bounded by Siwalik foot hill, which falls in Himachal Pradesh.

Previous Study

Present study area has a great significance in Indian history. This region has rich
history of proto-historic time like Harappan period and PGW period. Research on the
Proto-historic phase in the study area was started in 6th decade of 20th century by B.B. Lal
(1955) and demarcated some PGW sites which mentioned in Mahabharata. During this
attempt, he highlighted only PGW sites and tried to correlate with Mahabharata and
Aryans. There after a major step forward for the Proto-Histories studies in this region
was done by Suraj Bhan he carried out extensive exploration from 1961 to 1970 in
Haryana and during this course work he reported a large number of proto-historic sites
like Early Harappan, Harappan, Late Harappan and PGW site in upper Chautang valley
and presented the Proto-Historic Culture sequence of Haryana, this work entitled -
Prehistoric Archaeology of the Saraswati and the Drishadvati Valleys (Haryana)
(C.2300-1500 B.C.) (Bhan1972). Once more, Suraj Bhan conducted the exploitations
work in association with Gim J. Shaffer in north Haryana and tried to present the size
based study of Proto-Historic Sites (Shaffer & Bhan 1978).
Manmohan Kumar (1978) submitted his Ph.D. thesis in 1978 with title of
Archaeology of Ambala and Kurukshetra Districts to Kurukshetra University. During the
course work he added many new Proto-Historic sites and valuable information from the
Siwalik piedmont zone.
There after Amar Singh done his Ph.D. entitled “Archaeology of Karnal and Jind
Districts (Haryana)” in 1981 to the Kurukshetra University, through this work he
explored the Upper Chautang valley and reported some new sites as well as provided the

5
information on antiquarian remains of the Chautang area. During the 1975 to 1980 a
team archaeologist under the supervision of J.P. Joshi explored the Haryana, Jammu &
Kashmir and Punjab (Joshi et al. 1993). Braham Dutt conducted the study on the PGW
settlements in Haryana during the Ph. D. course which is entailed “Settlements of Painted
Grey Ware in Haryana”.

Yogeshawar Kumar done last attempt in the northeastern under his Ph.D. title
“Archaeo-Historical Study in North Haryana (FromEarliest Times to 12th Century A.D”
submitted to Kurukshetra University in 2003. He surveyed Panchkula, Ambala and
Yamuna districts most falling in piedmont plain area. The sites reported range from Stone
Age, Late Harappan, PGW, and NBPW to Early Historical period. Last attempts before
present research in the Chautang valley is done by Tejas Garge (2011), he submitted his
Ph.D. thesis entitled “Pettlement pattern of the Harappan Culture in Chautang basin”
Excavations
Three proto-historic sites have been excavated in this region. Sugh is the first
excavated site of study area; the excavation was carried out by Punjab University in
1963-64 and 1965-66 (Bhan 1977). This site was further excavated by Department of
Archaeology & Museums, Haryana in year 1993-94 (IAR 1993-94: 51-53), 1995-96
(IAR 1995-96:25) and 1998-99 (IAR 1998-99:23-24). These excavation works yielded
the PGW and NBP material culture there. However, Daulatpur is second excavated site in
the research area which was excavated by Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra in three
excavation seasons i.e. 1968-69 (IAR 1968-69:8-9), 1976-77(IAR 1976-77:19) and
1977-78 (IAR-1977-78:23) as the result of these excavation Late Harappan, PGW and
Historical culture sequence came into sight at the site. Subsequently, excavated site in
study region is Bahola Khalsha near Nilokheri and this excavation was conducted by
Prof. R.N. Singh (Banaras Hindu University) and Prof. C.A Patrie (Cambridge
University) in 2012 (Singh et al. 2013). This excavation brought into light the Late
Harappan and PGW culture sequence at this site. In addition to that Bhagwanpura (Joshi
et al. 1993), Kasithal (Joshi et al. 1993),, Mirzapur (IAR 1975-76:18), Harsh ka Tila
(Pande : 2005), Balu (Singh & Bhan 1982) and Jogna Khera (Achariya 2008) are also
excavated site in the adjacent area.

6
Gap in the Previous Studies and Origin of Research Problem
Proto-historic period of this area could not get the special attention in previous
research works which have been conducted in the region while a sufficient number of
proto-historic settlements have been pointed out in study area in the previously
explorations. However a number of questions still remained unanswered after that several
above said attempts. Because, most of previous studies are confined up to the discovery
of sites, re-exploration of sites, documentation of sites, collected antiquities and pottery
from these sites and recording the geo-coordinates of sites as well as present the culture
sequence of sites. Thus, these studies were not problem oriented or not the base on any
research question.
Although, Suraj Bhan and Jim Shaffer tried to establish chronological sequence of
the Harappan culture in Haryana (Shaffer & Bhan 1978) while the work of Tejas Garge
(2011) was an effort in direction of settlement Pattern study of Harappan culture in
Chautang valley. This was the very significant work in the context of environmental
settings of the sites and settlement pattern but there is many lacunas regarding Upper
Chautang Valley in his research like he picked some selective sites for the study of
settlement pattern and his work in this region is based on the provisos works. Yet, the
main focus of his study is concentrated on the middle Chautang basin around Rakhigarhi
so a gap was found in upper Chautang valley. In addition to that, there is some incorrect
Geo coordination mentioned by him, which are presenting the wrong expansion of
cultures and location of sites as well as PGW culture falls out his research scope. After all
Tejas Garge’s work should be considered as millstone work for the settlement pattern
study in Haryana.
It was significant to understand origin of pre-Harappan culture took place in the
proposed area? However, the existence of pre-Harappan in upper Chautang valley is still
controversial as well as Early Harappan (Sothi-Siswal). In context of Mature Harappan
culture, it was interesting to understand the reason behind to little number of mature
Harappan sites and lesser expansion of Mature Harappan people in this region. Apart
from these sudden incensement in the number of Late Harappan settlements in upper
Chautang valley also upraises a big query for scholars. Further big challenge for the

7
present research is to understand origin and expansion of PGW culture in study area and
the mechanism of the arrival these people in upper Chautang valley and adjoining area.
Aim and Objectives of the study was as following:

Prominent aim of the research work was to determine the settlement Pattern of
Proto-Historic cultures in Upper Chautang Valley in term of locational analysis of sites,
size base categorization of sites, function base categorization of sites, hierarchy of sites
and spatial distribution of Sites with following objectives:

 To carry out extensive exploration in the entire study area.

 To find out existence of early farming community in this region and to study the
origin, development & expansion of the early farming cultures in the upper
Chautang and Adjacent region.
 To find out existence of Early Harappan culture and demarcation of the eastern
boundary of Pre-Harappan and early-Harappan culture.
 To know, the expansion, dispersal, and migration of the Harappans in Ganga-
Yamuna doab.
 To study the transformation of Harappan culture into the late Harappan culture in
this region and compare the similarity and dissimilarity with adjoining regions.
And testify the theory of M. R. Mughal (1990) regarding the sudden increase in
the density of Late Harappan culture settlements in Ganga-Yauna doab.
 To understand existence the Bara culture regarding the Study area.
 To study of PGW culture of present region.
 Try to determine factors which were responsible for the origin, diffusion,
dispersal, and migration of proto-historic cultures in this region and their relation
to other contemporary cultures.
 To understand the Settlement Pattern Study.

Research Methodology:

 Studied the Cultural material of excavated sites viz. Dautalpur, Sugh, Bhola
Khalsa and other adjacent region’s excavated site like Bhagwanpura, Balu,
Mirzapur, Jogna Khera, etc.

8
 Cultural material discovered from previous surveys, housed in different
museums is analyzed and studied to address the problems which are raised in the
above paragraphs.
 Village-to-village explorations have been carried out in the entire study area and
the already explored sites also visited to develop better understanding of the
ecology of settlements.
 An attempt was made to record the correct location of the sites with the help of
GPS and Arch-GIS.
 Points of sites have been plotted on the map of study area with the help of Arch-
GIS Software to prepare maps of sites.
 Point of sites’ location has been generated on the Google earth to take the Satellite
images.
 Sites to sites distance has been measured with the help of Google earth and Arch-
GIS Software.
 An attempt was made to examine available published literature like excavation
reports/ dissertation/ thesis and these were compared with collected data during
explorations from study area.
 An attempt was made for “Synthesizing and integrating” the data into models.
Within the constraints of the available evidence, this study attempts to construct a
model of settlement patterns in Upper Chautang valley including site distribution,
production and exchange, organization etc.
 Dominance of particular culture on the site is recognized according to the ration
of percentage of recovered sample from sites.

9
 Define the Research problem
A Study on Proto-Historic Settlements in Upper Chautang Valley, Haryana

Research Plan

Review of the existing Concepts and Review of the Previous Findings

theories
Review of the Concept of Settlement Review of the Published and
Pattern other Regions Unpublished Explorations and
Excavations work on Upper
Chautang valley and other Regions

Collection of Data

Preliminary Data Collection by Field Explorations and Published Reports of

Excavations, Explorations and Data Housed in Museums

Analysis of Data

Analysis of the combined data

Interpretation and Report

Culture viz Study of Settlement Pattern

(Transformation of Settlement Pattern in the Upper Chautang Valley during the
Early Harappan to PGW)
Harappan Period]

10
References
Amal Kar & Bimal Ghose. (1984). Drishadvati River System of India: An assessment
and new findings. The Geographical Journal , 150 (2), 221–229.

Balbhadra. (1976). A Note on the Old Bed of Drsadvati. (U. V. Singh, Ed.)
Archaeological Congress and Seminar:1972 , p. 37.

Bhan, S. (1972). Prehistoric Archaeology of the Saraswati and Drishadvati Valley

(Haryana). Baroda: Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis. M.S. University Baroda.

Bhan, S. (1977). Report of excavation at Sugh. Journal of Haryana studies , 9.

Dhavalikar, M. (1997). Indian Protohistory. Book & Book: New Delhi.

Garge, T. (2011). Settlement Pattern Of The Harappan Culture In Chautang Basin. Pune
: Unppublished Ph.D. Thesis Deccan College.

Joshi, J. (1993). Excavation at BhagwanPura 1975-76 and other explorations &

Excavations 1975-81 In Haryana, Jammu &Kashmir and Punjab. New Delhi:
Archaeological Survey of India.

Joshi, Y. (2003). Archaeo-Historical Study in Northeaster Haryana (from Earliest Times

to 12th Century A.D.). Kuekshetra Uinvesrisry Kuekshetra: Unpublished Ph.D. thesis .

Kesarwani, A. (2008). Kurukshetr ka tihas, Sanskriti anwm Purattatav :ak Sarvekshan.

Smarika the 44th India Oriental Conference,K.U.K. , 140-155.

Kumar, M. (1978,). Archaeology of Ambala and Kurukshetra Districts (Haryana).

Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis. Kurukshera Universcity Kurukshetra.

Lal, B. (1954-55). Excavations at Hasitnapur and other Explorations in the Upper Ganga,
1950-52. Ancient India, Bulletin of the Archaeological Survey of India, Nos.10&11 , No.
10-11, 5-151.

Manu Samriti 2.17.

11
Mughal, M. (1990). The Harappan Settlement Systems and Patterns in the Greater Indus
Valley ( Circa 3500-1500 B.C.). Pakistan Archaeology , 1-30.

Mughal, M. (1990). The Proto historic Settlement Patterns in the Cholistan Desert. In M.
T. P.Callieri (Ed.), Souoth Asian Archaeology 1987 (pp. 143-156). Rome : ISMEO.

Oldham, C. F. (1893). The Saraswati and the Lost River of the Indian Desert. Journal of
Royal Asiatic Society 34 , 49–76.

Pande, B. M. (2005). Archaeology of Thanesar : A Brief Report on Excavations at Harsh-

Ka-Tila. Puratattva (1988-89) , 19, 1-5.

Piggott, S. (1950). Prehistoric India to 1000 BC. Harmondsworth: Penguin.

R.N. Singh, C. A. (2013). Survey and Excavation at Bahola District Karnal, Haryana, A
perliminary Report. Bharati Bulletin of The Department of Ancient Indian History
Culture & Archaeology, BHU , 37, 27-37.

Rig-Veda 3.23, 4.

Singh, A. ( 1981). Archaeology of Jind and Karnal Districts (Haryana). Unpublished

Ph.D. Thesis. K.U. Kurukshetra.

Suraj Bhan and Jim G. Shaffer. (1978). New Discoveries in Northern Haryana. Man and
Environment Vol. 1 , 59-68.

Udai Vir Singh & Suraj Bhan. (1982). A note on the excavation at balu Dist. Jind
(Haryana). In R. Sharma (Ed.), Indian Archaeology New Perspectives (pp. 124-126).
Delhi.

Valdiya, K. S. (2002). Saraswati: The River that Disappeared. Hyderabad: Hyderabad

University Press

12