• UGI USER
  • May 08, 2024
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THE 4,600-YEAR-OLD WOMAN FROM RAKHIGARHI

Relevance: GS 1 – Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.

Why in the news?

  • The DNA study of a skeleton from an archaeological site in Haryana has sparked extensive interest in genomics, history, archaeology, and linguistics.
  • The findings, slated for inclusion in a school textbook, have reignited debate around ‘the Aryan question’.
  • This discovery has prompted exploration into whether the Harappan and Vedic cultures are synonymous.

About Rakhigarhi SIte and its skeletons

  • Located roughly 150 km from Delhi, down the Delhi-Sirsa highway, are the twin villages of Rakhi Shahpur and Rakhi Khas in Haryana’s Hisar district, leading to the archaeological site of Rakhigarhi.
  • Despite its modest appearance, the site holds significance as the largest site of the Harappan culture, as indicated by a plaque.
  • Mound 7 within the excavation site spans 3.5 sq km or 350 hectares and has been identified as a burial plot, yielding 56 skeletons.
    • Among these skeletons, a roughly 4,600-year-old woman’s remains have drawn attention from historians, anthropologists, geneticists, and linguists.
    • DNA analysis of the skeleton suggests a genetic mixture primarily related to ancient Iranians, with additional influence from Southeast Asian hunter-gatherers.
    • Notably, the analysis reveals an absence of the Steppe Pastoral gene typically found in Central Asian populations.

Continuity in indigenous origins

  • The term “Aryan” has historically been used interchangeably with Steppe Pastoralists, though in contemporary scholarship, “Indo-Aryan” is preferred to avoid racial connotations.
  • The discovery has reignited the debate on the Aryan migration to India, a topic present in the history books of many generations of Indians.
  • The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), responsible for educational materials, swiftly circulated a document to integrate these developments into the upcoming academic year’s Class 12 History textbook, specifically within the chapter ‘Bricks, Beads and Bones – The Harappan Civilisation’.
    • The proposed textbook asserts that the DNA of the Harappans has persisted in the South Asian population, indicating their descendants, and suggests that the continuity in genetic and cultural history undermines the notion of large-scale Aryan immigration.
  • Scientists involved in the project express differing opinions;
    • One group suggests that the skeleton signifies continuity in history, implying indigenous origins for both the Harappan and Vedic cultures,
    • Another group of historians argues that the Harappan civilisation and the authors of the Vedas were distinct peoples.

ASI on ground

  • The findings were initially published in two papers in 2019: ‘An Ancient Harappan Genome Lacks Ancestry from Steppe Pastoralists or Iranian Farmers’ and ‘The Formation of Human Populations in South and Central Asia’ in Science.’
  • Sanjay Manjul, chief archaeologist and head of the on-site ASI team, providing detailed descriptions of the excavated mounds, including –
    • Mature urban planning, clean house structures, organized drainage systems, fire altars, sacrificial pits, and various cultural artifacts such as animal figurines (bulls, pigs, tigers), terracotta toys, jewelry, and tools.
  • Specification of Rakhigarhi Remains
    • Mound 1 identified as a center of industrial activity, features evidence of kilns for pottery production and tools for lapidary industries for semi-precious stones, sun-dried unbaked bricks for homes, burnt-brick drains, and a fire altar.
    • Mound 2 contains a 14-meter high citadel, a large podium, sacrificial pit chambers, a granary, a market complex, house complexes, and two deep wells.
  • Rakhigarhi’s archaeological significance dates back to 1915 when the Survey of India first documented the site, later added to archaeological data in 1968 and
    • Excavations were conducted by ASI between 1997 and 2000 and by the Deccan College of Post Graduate Research Institute in collaboration with the State Archaeology Department of Haryana between 2011 and 2016.
    • Excavated material is now held by the Haryana State Archaeological Department, set to be part of a museum under construction by ASI.
  • Manjul emphasizes cultural continuity established through excavations, even without considering DNA findings, citing correlations with Vedic culture like fire altars and sacrificial pits.

Different views of scientists about Indigenous Origins

Scientists in favour:

  • Niraj Rai, a scientist from the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences and lead author in the genome projects, acknowledges the presence of Harappan ancestry in most Indian populations but also notes a significant proportion of Steppe DNA in modern Indian populations, up to 20%.
    • The Cell article, co-authored by Rai, highlights that ancient Harappans lacked Steppe pastoralist-related ancestry, indicating it wasn’t widespread during the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) as it is today.
    • Rai suggests that migration from the Steppe region occurred after 1500 BCE, leading to genetic mixing with local populations. Both papers indicate Steppe Pastorals arrived in India between 2000 BCE and 1500 BCE.
    • Despite genetic infusion after 1500 BCE, Rai emphasizes the cultural continuity at Rakhigarhi spanning over 5,000 years, with significant cultural developments dating back to 6000 BCE.
  • Professor Vasant Shinde, former Vice Chancellor of Deccan College, University of Pune, and a key figure in the excavation work at Rakhigarhi, concurs with the assessment.
    • He asserts that genetic and archaeological evidence suggests the similarity between Harappan and Vedic cultures, though he emphasizes the need for further research.
    • He states that the Harappan civilization forms the foundation of Indian cultural civilization and suggests that many contemporary practices derive from Harappan traditions, highlighting their lasting impact over 5,000 years.
  • The NCERT acknowledges the need for further research on the relationship between the Harappans and the Vedic people, particularly concerning the development and use of Sanskrit.

Scientists against:

The absence of Sanskrit evidence at Rakhigarhi raises questions about the relationship between Vedic and Harappan cultures. No linguistic evidence exists at the Rakhigarhi site.

  • Historian Romila Thapar in her co-authored book “Which of us are Aryans?“, raises questions about the standard chronology of the Vedic period (which is roughly 1500 to 500 BCE)
    • This period marks the composition of the Rig Veda, followed by the Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda
    • Thapar further explains that this historical period has become central to a political ideology emphasizing the Aryan culture of the Vedas as India’s foundational culture, often suggesting complete indigenous origins for Aryans.
    • However, most historians tend to dismiss this perspective.
  • Linguistics scholars propose that classical Sanskrit evolved from the Indo-Aryan language ‘Rig Vedic Sanskrit’, traditionally believed to have been brought by Steppe migrants.
    • While the Cell paper suggests the spread of Indo-European languages was likely through Steppe Pastorals, it prompts a reevaluation of Sanskrit’s origin, considering the possibility of indigenous development in the Indian subcontinent.
    • Linguist G.N. Devy refutes this notion, stating that language evolution studies based on comparative and historical linguistics indicate Sanskrit’s absence in South Asia before the Harappan era.
      • Devy criticizes the claim that the Rakhigarhi DNA study challenges established language movement theories, deeming it as speculative and agenda-driven rather than scientifically rigorous.
      • The agenda mentioned aims to support the theory of one-nation, one-origin, sparking numerous debates and interpretations in mass media since the publication of the two studies.
    • Tony Joseph’s Perspective: The author of “Early Indians: The Story of Our Ancestors and Where We Came From,” notes the Harappan Civilization’s urban sophistication and extensive trade connections, in contrast with the pastoral culture depicted in the Rig Veda.
      • While the Rig Veda prominently features imagery of horses and chariots, these elements are notably absent in the artifacts of the Harappan Civilization.

Scholarly Opinion on NCERT Book:

  • Some scholars suggest that both arguments should be presented in the NCERT book to illustrate that history and science are dynamic and subject to change as new evidence emerges.
  • This approach would acknowledge the ongoing debate surrounding the interpretation of archaeological and genetic findings, allowing students to appreciate the evolving nature of historical understanding.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/the-4600-year-old-woman-from-rakhigarhi/article68132364.ece

Mains question

Discuss the contrasting views on the genetic and cultural influences of Steppe migrants on the Harappan civilization and its implications for the origins of Sanskrit language and Vedic culture. (250 words)