Preliminary Findings on Human Skeletal Remains from Harappan site of Farmana

The present paper deals with the primary observations conducted on human skeletal remains excavated at Harappan siteof Farmana. The site (۲۹°۰۲’۲۲”N and ۷۶°۱۸’۲۱”E) in the jurisdiction of Meham block of Rohtak district, Haryana, islocally known as Daksh Kheda. Three cultural phases have been identified; Early Harappan, Mature Harappan and LateHarappan, dating back to ۲۵۰۰ BC. In all ۷۰ burial pits were demarked, out of that ۵۹ were excavated and skeletal remainsof ۳۵ individuals have been identified. Primary, secondary and symbolic burials were found within the site.Standard methods are used for the skeletal analysis. Detailed inventory is prepared for each individual. Observations aremade which includes age estimation, sex determination, stature estimation, morpho-metry and pathology. Taphonomicalchanges are also noted.Unfortunately not many pathologies could be identified on these specimens, as the preservation of skeletal elements isfar from satisfactory. There are ۱۱ males and ۱۵ females and sex identification of one individual is not possible. Otherthan these adults, ۴ children and ۵ adolescents are also present. Apart from attrition, in dental pathology, only one caseof enamel hypoplasia is encountered and few teeth with caries have been found. Dental fluorosis is also seen on oneindividual. Vertebral pathology indentified on single specimen though confirmation is not possible due to the weatheringof bones.Interestingly one individual (۳۹ B) has provided evidence of trauma which shows the beginning stages of healing. Onlythe skull of this individual has been preserved and therefore no comment can be made about post-cranial changes. Overall,it looks like the Farmana individuals were quite healthy

Keywords:

Indus , Farmana , Human Burials , Pathology , Trauma