Harappa Excavations 1986-1990

Book excerpt: The site of Harappa was one of the major urban centres of the ancient Indus civilization. Recent excavations have revealed traces of an early settlement, a transitional development, and several phases of full urban and post-urban occupation. The results presented here coupled with the general observations of past excavations make possible a better understanding of the city of Harappa in the broader context of Indus Culture; how and why the settlement grew and expanded; and how the city was organised. The eleven chapters in this volume offers a major contribution to the archaeology of complex societies.