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B RICKS, BEADS AND B ONES 21 information about the context of these finds was irretrievably lost. 10.3 New techniques and questions Wheeler at Harappa Early archaeologists were often It was R.E.M. Wheeler, after he took over as Director- driven by a sense of adventure. General of the ASI in 1944, who rectified this This is what Wheeler wrote problem. Wheeler recognised that it was necessary to follow the stratigraphy of the mound rather about his experience at Harappa: than dig mechanically along uniform horizontal It was, I recall, on a warm lines. Moreover, as an ex-army brigadier, he brought May night in 1944 that a four with him a military precision to the practice milestonga-ride brought me of archaeology. The frontiers of the Harappan civilisation have as the newly appointed Director General of the little or no connection with present-day national Archaeological Survey with boundaries. However, with the partition of the my local Muslim officer from subcontinent and the creation of Pakistan, the major a little railway-station labelled known sites became part of Pakistan. This has “Harappa” along a deep spurred Indian archaeologists to try and locate sites sand track to a small rest- in India. An extensive survey in Kutch has revealed house beside the moonlit a number of Harappan settlements and explorations mounds of the ancient site. in Punjab and Haryana have added to the list of Warned by my anxious Harappan sites. While Kalibangan, Lothal, Rakhi colleague that we must start our inspection at 5.30 next Garhi and most recently Dholavira have been discovered, explored and excavated as part of these morning and finish by 7.30 efforts, fresh explorations continue. “after which it would be too Over the decades, new issues have assumed hot”, we turned in with the darkfigureofthpunka walla importance. Where some archaeologists are often crouched patiently in the keen to obtain a cultural sequence, others try to entrance and the night understand the logic underlying the location of specific sites. They also grapple with the wealth of air rent by innumerable artefacts, trying to figure out the functions these jackals in the neighbouring wilderness. may have served. Next morning, punctually Since the 1980s, there has also been growing at 5.30, our little procession international interest in Harappan archaeology. started out towards the sandy Specialists from the subcontinent and abroad have heaps. Within ten minutes I been jointly working at both Harappa and stopped and rubbed my eyes Mohenjodaro. They are using modern scientific as I gazed upon the tallest techniques including surface exploration to recover mound, scarcely trusting my traces of clay, stone, metal and plant and animal vision. Six hours later my remains as well as to minutely analyse every scrap embarrassed staff and I were of available evidence. These explorations promise to still toiling with picks and yield interesting results in the future. knives under the blazing sun, the mad sahib (I am afraid) setting a relentless pace. Ü Discuss... Which of the themes in this chapter would have FROM R.E.M. W HEELE, interested Cunningham? Which are the issues My Archaeological Mission to India and Pakistan,76. that have been of interest since 1947? Reprint 2026-27