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Dholavira - Archaeological Site
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Dholavira

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description Dholavira Overview

Dholavira is an archaeological site representing a major city of the Indus Valley Civilization, located in the Kutch district of Gujarat, India. Inhabited from approximately 3000 to 1500 BCE, the city is distinguished by its sophisticated urban planning and complex water conservation systems, including large carved stone reservoirs. Excavations have uncovered a prominent signboard containing undeciphered Indus script. The site was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021.

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Where is the Dholavira archaeological site located?

Dholavira is an archaeological site representing a major city of the Indus Valley Civilization, located in the Kutch district of Gujarat, India. It sits on the arid island of Khadir Bet in the Rann of Kutch. The site was inhabited from approximately 3000 to 1500 BCE.

What is Dholavira famous for?

Dholavira is most distinguished by its sophisticated urban planning and its complex, massive water conservation systems. Because of its arid location, the city built a series of large reservoirs to harvest and store rainwater. This engineering marvel demonstrates the advanced hydrological knowledge of the Indus Valley Civilization.

When did UNESCO add Dholavira to the World Heritage list?

Dholavira was officially inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2021. It is the first site of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization to be included in the list from India. UNESCO recognized its incredible town planning, street systems, and water management technologies.

Who discovered the ruins of Dholavira?

The ruins of Dholavira were discovered in 1967 by J. P. Joshi, an archaeologist from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Major excavations of the site were later conducted between 1990 and 2005 under the direction of R. S. Bisht. Their work revealed the ancient city's impressive architecture and stadium.

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