International Colloquium on the Emerging Perspectives of the Harappan Civilization | February 10 - 12, 2023

Talk 9:
Anthropological analysis on human skeletal remains from Rakhigarhi (1999-2000)

Abstract:
The excavations (1999-2000) at Rakhigarhi (29o 17’ 30’’ N and 76o 06’ 50’’ E) have reported skeletal series of the Harappans both from cemetery and habitation area. It is spread over an area of a 3 km radius (300 ha) encompassing a set of seven mounds of which 1 to 5 are integrated while a couple are removed from each other. The excavation yielded skeletal remains of 17 individuals. Out of those remains 11 individuals were sent to the anthropology laboratory at Deccan College Post Graduate and Research Institute. Out of eleven, nine individuals are from RGR 7 and the other two are from RGR 2. The material excavated from RGR 1 was either not collected or sent to the laboratory. From RGR 7, one individual (SK7) is in the National Museum and SK 5 was not lifted from excavation. The preservation for SK 9 and SK 10 is very fragmentary. The individuals from RGR 7 belong to the middle age to old age category and from RGR 2 one is a child aged 8 years and the other individual is of old age. There are 4 females and 5 males. The sex determination for RGR 7, SK 10 is not possible, and RGR 2 SK 1 is child. Palaeopathological observations include nutritional deficiency, infection diseases, joint problems, and stress markers. The dental anomalies other than attrition are enamel hypoplasia, caries, antemortem tooth loss, dental crowding, and dental calculus. The craniometry and odontometry were conducted using standard methodology and they were compared with measurements from other Harappan sites.

Speaker:
Veena Mushrif-Tripathy

Speaker's Profile:
Veena Murshrif-Tripathy is working in the field of Bioarchaeology, specializing in the study of human skeletal remains from archaeological excavations. She has worked on more than 30 sites belonging to various cultural phases from different parts of India. Some of the sites are Nevasa, Kodumanal, Sanjan, Balupur, Jotsoma, Farmana, Rakhigarhi, etc. She is part of national and international projects. She has completed seven major research projects and currently she is engaged in two major projects, one funded by National Geographic society and another by Australia National University. She has been publishing her research work in both national and international journals. She has presented her work in the national and international conferences. She has excavated a cave site in District Kargil, Ladakh. She has published six monographs.