Harappan site marauded by treasure hunters

Deepender Deswal

Tribune News Service

Rakhigarhi (Hisar), March 4 

The world’s largest Harappan site in this village continues to be a happy hunting ground for collectors as well as traders in antiques. The site, that provides glimpses of the life and times of people who lived 5,000 years ago, is attracting treasure hunters. 

Even locals have acquired artefacts excavated from the site which they proudly exhibit in their homes. During a drive by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) recently, a group of children displayed artefacts at the village chaupal. Each of them brought 10 to 20 items.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has declared parts of the site as 'protected.' But a large part remains vulnerable to plunder. The entire area, including the ASI-protected mounds, are accessible to the common man. As a result, a number of artefacts — seals, gravings, pottery, figurines, bangles, beads and bone fragments — dug from the site have found their way to antiques markets. 

“There is no denying the role of unscrupulous elements. Some families from Rakhigarhi and Jind town are notorious for their involvement in such dealings”, said a villager. Dinesh, who motivated the children to display items at the INTACH-sponsored exhibition, said a number of villagers had acquired artefacts. 

Vazir Singh, associated with the excavation work for four decades, said he started collecting artefacts when in Class VI. "I have donated hundreds of items to the Haryana Archaeological Department and the National Museum. As children, we would play with marbles, placing bets on the artefacts. An Arya Samaj leader would take away the items from us in lieu of books and pens”, he recalled. But that changed after renowned archaeologist Ravindra Singh Bisht explained to him about the importance of the site during a visit in the late seventies. Vazir Singh, who helped former ASI director Dr Amrendra Nath during excavation work in 1997-2000 and Dr Vasant Shinde of Deccan College, Pune, in 2014-2016, said: “It is easy to lay hands on the items during the rainy season. Water erodes the surface of mounds and lay the buried items bare.”

Even as the SHO of the Narnaund police station denied information on the acquisition of artefacts, Banani Bhatacharya, Deputy Director, Haryana Archaeology Department, said the local administration could take possession of the antiques from local residents “which are government property under the Treasure Trove Act”. She also questioned the display of artefacts at the INTECH exhibition.