Gave its name to the Harappan Civilization
Settled from c. 3300 BCE
UNESCO Tentative World Heritage Site
Damaged by 19th-century railway construction
History Through the Ages
Indus Valley Civilization (c. 3300–1300 BCE)
Harappa gave its name to the entire Harappan (Indus Valley) Civilization. Located on the Ravi River in Punjab, it was a major urban center of the civilization spanning from early Harappan beginnings around 3300 BCE to the mature phase (2600–1900 BCE) to the late period.
Archaeological Discovery
Harappa was first excavated in the 1920s. Unfortunately, much of the site was damaged in the 19th century when British railway engineers used its ancient bricks for ballast on the Lahore-Multan railway. Despite this, excavations have revealed a complex city with a citadel, residential areas, and evidence of sophisticated craft production.
Legacy
Harappa is a UNESCO Tentative World Heritage Site. The Harappa Museum on-site displays thousands of artifacts. Modern research continues to reveal new insights into this 4,500-year-old urban civilization.