Executive summary: Araṭṭa is Lāṭa in the vicinity of Rann of Kutch
On this map which indicates archaeological sites where Meluhha hieroglyphs were discovered, a travel along the Persian Gulf from Sumer through Elam-Makran will lead us to Araṭṭa (which was called Lāṭa, northern Gujarat or Rann of Kutch). Araṭṭa can be attested archaeologically as the region comprising a complex of sites shown on the map along the lower reaches of Indus-Sarasvati rivers, in Rann of Kutch and in the vicinity of the Rann: Tepe Yahya, Shahr-i Sokhta, Mundigak, Shahi-Tump, Lohamjo-daro, Nal, Mohenjo Daro, Jhukar, Mehrgarh, Pirak, Sibri, Nausharo, Mehi, Nindowari, Kot-Diji, Nara-waro-daro, amri, Chanhujo daro, Bala Kot, Allahdino, Gharo Bhiro, Desalpur, Pabumath, Dholavira (Kotda), Surkotada, Bet Dwarka, Khirsara (Netra).
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Seventy-three beads
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Nine unfinished beads. Chanhudaro Prehistoric Carnelian
Chanhu-daro, Indus Valley, Pakistan Prehistoric Carnelian 36.1122.1-73
PROVENANCE
CREDIT LINE
Kutch, Araṭṭa Sindhu-Sarasvati civilization sites.
Khirsara (Netra) the central hub of Araṭṭa
This complex of sites constitutes Araṭṭa as Lāṭa. If a city has to be sought to identify Araṭṭa, it is likely to be a recent, splendid, archaeological discovery: Khirsara (Netra) located south-west of Dholavira (Kotda) and close to the Arabian Sea. The archaeologists who are in the process of excavating the site view it as the central industrial hub of the bronze age based on the array of finds of seals with Meluhha hieroglyphs, gold beads, precious-stone-beads, copper and shell artifacts. Anyway, it could be a toss-up between Dholavira (Kotda) and Khirsara (Netra) to pin-down the central hub of bronze age activity in Araṭṭa. If Dholavira (Kotd) circular stone structures and polished pillars, stone altars prove to be the location of a temple comparable to Ein Gedi near Nahal Mishmar, Dholavira can be identified within Araṭṭa as a temple city with a mercantile complex (karrum) becokoning seafaring merchants from Uruk-Anzan using Meluhha hieroglyphs on a monolithic signboard board.
Thus Khirsara can be posited as the industrial hub and Dholavira the marketing hub with a kole.l, 'smithy, temple' of bronze age Araṭṭa.
Khirsara, the Meluhha name can be explained within Indian sprachbund as a proto-Indo-Aryan gloss comparable to Araṭṭa ~~a-rāṣṭra:
kṣīrá n. ʻ milk, thickened milk ʼ RV. Pa. khīra -- n., Pk. khīra -- , chī° n.; Gy. as. kihr ʻ milk ʼ JGLS new ser. ii 328, pal. kir ʻ cheese, milk ʼ; Ḍ. c̣hīr m. ʻ milk ʼ (← Sh.?); Wg. c̣hīr ʻ sour milk ʼ; Dm. c̣hīr ʻ milk ʼ, Paš. lauṛ. c̣hīr, lagh. x̌īr, gul. xīr, shut. ṣīr, Shum. c̣hīr, Gaw. Kal. Kho. c̣hir; Bshk. c̣hīr ʻ milk, udder ʼ; Tor. c̣hī ʻ milk ʼ, Sv. c̣hir, Phal. c̣hīr, S. khīru m., L. khīr m.; A. gā -- khīr ʻ cow's milk ʼ; B. khir ʻ inspissated milk ʼ; Or. khira ʻ milk, juice from trees ʼ,khirā ʻ inspissated milk ʼ; G. khīrũ n. ʻ beestings ʼ; M. śīr phuṭṇẽ ʻ milk to be set flowing (in the breast) ʼ, śirẽ n. ʻ caudle for puerperal women of coconut milk etc., decoction of boiled lac or certain grains ʼ; Si. kira ʻ milk ʼS.kcch. khīr f. ʻ milk ʼ; Garh. khīr ʻ rice cooked in milk ʼ; A. khīrāiba ʻ to milk ʼ AFD 336; Md. kiru in mini -- kiru ʻ breast -- milk ʼ.(CDIAL 3696)
śará ʻ reed from which arrows are made ʼ RV.,S. saru m. ʻ S. sara ʼ, L. P. sar m. (P. sarī f. ʻ bar of iron, lash of whip ʼ); sariyā f. ʻ piece of reed or bamboo, gold or silver wire ʼ; G. sariyɔ m. ʻ bar, rod ʼ (CDIAL 12324)
śáras n. ʻ cream, skin on boiled milk ʼ VS., ʻ thin layer of ashes ʼ TBr., śara -- 2 m. ʻ upper part of cream or of slightly curdled milk ʼ ĀpŚr. K. har m. ʻ cream, scum on curdled milk or oil ʼ; A. xar ʻ cream ʼ, B. sar; Or. sara ʻ cream, thick milk ʼ; H. sar m. ʻ cream, curds ʼ; Si. saraya ʻ coagulum of curds or milk ʼ.(CDIAL 12332).
Khir-sara is cognate kṣīrá-śáras 'cream of milk' (A pun on the Sindhu sagara as khirsara is located close to the Arabian sea coast, in the Rann of Kutch) Rebus: खिरी [ khirī ] f (
Dholavira signboard For rebus readings see: http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2013/08/bronze-age-kanmer-bagasra.html
The arguments for locating Araṭṭa as Lāṭa can be summed up in an archaeological context and in the context of two important texts: 1) the Sumerian epic Enmerkar and the Lord of Araṭta which locates Anzan as being en route between Uruk and Araṭṭa; and 2) Baudhāyana śrautasūtra which identifies migrations (apparently from the central Sarasvati River basin near Kurukshetra) westwards to Gandhara, Parsu and Araṭṭa.
Gandhara and Parsu mentioned in this Sanskrit text are well recognized as Afghanistan and Pārs.
Pārs/Fārs (Parsa (Persian: استان پارس Ostān-e Pārs/Fārs pronounced [ˈfɒː(ɾ)s]), originally spelled Pārsā (Persian: پارسا) is the Parsu mentioned in Baudhāyana śrautasūtra 18.44 as migrations of people from a central region:
pran Ayuh pravavraja. tasyaite Kuru-Pancalah Kasi-Videha ity. etad Ayavam pravrajam. pratyan amavasus. tasyaite Gandharvarayas Parsavo ‘ratta ity. etad Amavasavam
Ayu went east, his is the Yamuna-Ganga region (Kuru-Pancala, Kasi-Videha).
Amavasu went west, his is Gandhara, Parsu and Araṭṭa.
Locating Anzan
Many scholars have equated the archaeological site of Tal-i Malyan with Anzan (Anshan (Persian: انشان Anšan) and located as a province of Pars (Persia) in the Zagros mountains, Anshan (Tal-I Malyan) is shown on the map.
Location of Anzan within Elam. Approximate bronze age extension of the Persian Gulf is shown.
That Anzan is a region in the vicinity of Susa -- along the Persian Gulf --may be seen from the following historical evidences. An extension of the region along the Persian Gulf leads to the Rann of Kutch which was Araṭṭa.
Khutelutush-InShushinak of Elam did not take the title sunkir'king' -- a term used by his predecessors, from ca. 15th century BCE, but called himself 'menir of Anzan and Susa'. Menir meant a ‘feudal lord’. (cf. Edwards, IES, ed., 1973, Cambridge Ancient History, Vols. 1, Part 2: Early history of the Middle East, Cambridge University Press, p. 500)
In Sumerian texts Susiana as a name for the region, was called Numma, "the Highlands," of which Elamtu or Elamu, "Elam," was the Semitic translation. Important parts of the region were Shushan or Susa and Anzan (Anshan, contracted Assan). In lexical tablets Anzan is equated with Elamtu. [See W. K. Loftus, Chaldaea and Susiana (1857); A. Billerbeck, Susa (1893); J. de Morgan, Memoires de la Delegation en Perse (9 vols., 1899-1906)].
On a stele with four registers dated c. 1340-1300 BCE, representing King Untash Napirisha, he is called 'King of Anzan and Susa'.
Sandstone, J. de Morgan excavations Sb12
Meluhha hieroglyphs read rebus
kāṇṭamகாண்டம் kāṇṭam, n. < kāṇḍa. 1. Water; sacred water; நீர். துருத்திவா யதுக்கிய குங்குமக் காண் டமும் (கல்லா. 49, 16). <kanda> {N} ``large earthen water ^pot kept and filled at the house''. @1507. #14261.(Munda) Rebus: khāṇḍā ‘metal tools, pots and pans’ (Marathi)
<lo->(B) {V} ``(pot, etc.) to ^overflow''. See <lo-> `to be left over'. @B24310. #20851. Re<lo->(B) {V} ``(pot, etc.) to ^overflow''. See <lo-> `to be left over'. (Munda ) Rebus: loh ‘copper’ (Hindi)
Hieroglyphs: lo ‘pot to overflow’kāṇḍa‘water’.
Rebus: लोखंड lokhaṇḍIron tools, vessels, or articles in general.
This stele with four registers was commissioned by the Elamite king Untash-Napirisha for the city of Chogha Zanbil. It was later moved to Susa by one of his successors, probably Shutruk-Nahhunte I. The four registers depict the god Inshushinak acknowledging the monarch's power, two priestesses accompanying the king to the temple, minor deities - half-women, half-fish - holding streams of water, and two creatures - half-men, half-mouflons - who are guardians of the sacred tree.
King Untash-Napirisha dedicated this stele to the god Inshushinak in Al-Untash, now known as Chogha Zanbil, the new religious capital he had built 40 kilometers southeast of Susa.
In the upper register, the deity Inshushinak welcomes Untash-Napirisha. Between the two figures is carved a dedication in Elamite, naming Inshushinak god of the Susa plain.
The third register depicts a minor goddess with a fish's tail instead of legs. She is holding streams of water flowing from several vessels.
In the bottom register, two creatures - half-men, half-mouflons - flank a stylized tree that represents plant life. These figures are the equivalents of the Mesopotamian half-man, half-bull figures -- all are Meluhha hieroglyphs.
meḍho a ram, a sheep (G.)(CDIAL 10120) Rebus: mẽṛhẽt, meḍ‘iron’ (Mu.Ho.)
ḍhangar‘bull’ Rebus: dhangar‘blacksmith’ (Maithili) ḍangar‘blacksmith’ (Hindi)
Tree: kuṭhāru Rebus: kuṭhāru ‘armourer or weapons maker’(metal-worker), also an inscriber or writer. kuṭi ‘tree’ kuṭhi ‘smelter’.
xolā = tail (Kur.); qoli = id. (Malt.)(DEDR 2135). kole.l ‘smithy, temple’ (Ko.) kol ‘working in iron, blacksmith (Ta.)(DEDR 2133)
ayo ‘fish’; rebs: ayo ‘metal’ (G.)
What are the regions Gandhara, Parsu and Araṭṭa mentioned in the Baudhāyana śrautasūtra?
With Anzan located in Pārs/Fārseast of Uruk and Susa, we can identify the region Parsu along the Persian Gulf, west of Tepe Yahya.
With the identification of Badakshan mines as the source of lapis lazuli stones, we can locate Gandhara region as Afghanistan
Since Araṭṭa is stated in the epic to be adjacent to Anzan, we can locate Araṭṭa in Baluchistan and adjacent northern Gujarat (source of carnelian stones).
Thus, the three regions mentioned in Baudhāyana śrautasūtra can thus be identified as: Afghanistan, Anzan (Pārs ) and Araṭṭa (vicinity of Rann of Kutch).
Delineation of Araṭṭa
Araṭṭa (vicinity of Rann of Kutch) has the archaeological sites of: Khirsara, Desalpur, Narapa, Juni Karan, Dholavira, Surkotada, Konda Badli, Surkotada, Kanmer, Shikarpur, Gola Dhoro (Bagasra).
This map shows the complex of sites such as Amri, Chanhu-daro, Gharo Bhiro, Allahdino, Shahi Tump, Tepe Yahya, sites of Rann of Kutch. Thie region spreading southwards -- along the lower reaches of Sindhu and Sarasvati rivers -- from Chanhu-daro can be posited as Araṭṭamentioned in the ancient Sanskrit text and in the text of Sumerian epic: Enmerkar and the Lord of
The types of stone beads and disc-shaped gold beads discovered at Khirsara archaeological site within Araṭṭaregion
A cluster of pottery at Khirsara: a tall slender jar, a big conch shell, three storage jars. The tall slender jar was 85 cm. tall and 33 cm. dia.
See: http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2013/08/bronze-age-kanmer-bagasra.htmlFor details of copper implements, seals found at Shikarpur, Gola Dhoro (Bagasra), Desalpur, Surkotada, Kanmer.
Khirsara as central industrial hub of Araṭṭa
“The artefacts that have been discovered here reinforced the “industrial” nature of the settlement. Among them is a gold hoard, in a small pot, of disc-shaped gold beads, micro gold beads and their tubular counterparts. As Jitendra Nath and this reporter stood on a trench that had been filled up, he pointed to the levelled earth below and said, “It was in this trench that your friend S. Nandakumar [a site supervisor] found the gold hoard.” It was a trench allotted to Nandakumar, and one of the labourers digging the trench came up with a pot that had 26 gold beads inside. “Gold beads are not found in big quantities in the Harappan sites,” Jitendra Nath said. Some disc-shaped gold beads were found at Lothal, a Harappan site in Gujarat.
There are a variety of beads made of shell and steatite and of semi-precious stones such as lapis lazuli, agate, carnelian, chert, chalcedony and jasper. About 25,000 steatite beads were found in one trench alone. Shell bangles, shell inlays, copper bangles and rings were also found in plenty. Among copper implements were chisels, knives, needles, points, fish hooks, arrow-heads and weights. There were also bone tools, bone points and beads made out of bones.
“We have found good evidence of bead-making here,” said Jitendra Nath. “We found a lot of drill-bits used for drilling holes in the beads…. We also found stone weights of various denominations. While the smallest weighs five grams, the heaviest is about five kilograms.”
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) team found 11 seals, including circular seals. Some of them are carved with unicorn and bison images, and have the Harappan script engraved on them. While the unicorn seal is made of soapstone, the bison seal is made out of steatite. A rare discovery was that of two bar seals, both engraved with the Harappan script only and remarkably intact.
The trenches have yielded a vast amount of reserved slip ware, painted with exquisite designs; a variety of red ware; buff ware, or polished ware; chocolate-coloured slip ware; and grey ware.
Jitendra Nath, of ASI, said: “The kind of antiquities we are getting from this site indicates that Khirsara was a major industrial hub in western Kutch. It was located on a trade route from other parts of Gujarat to Sind in Pakistan, which is about 100 km away. Of course, the Harappans who lived here were basically traders, manufacturing industrial goods for export to distant lands and to other Harappan sites in the vicinity and farther away…
Khirsara is unique among Indus Valley settlements in having a general fortification wall around the settlement and also separate fortification walls around every complex inside the settlement. The citadel complex, the warehouse, the factory-cum-residential complex, and even the potters’ kiln have their own protective walls.
The massive, outer fortification wall still stands in many places, 4,600 years after it was built. It measures 310 metres by 210 metres and is built of partly dressed sandstone blocks set in mud mortar. The wall’s width is 3.4 metres but additional reinforcements in later phases have increased its width considerably. The bedrock below the wall was levelled with clay, sand, grit, lime and thoroughly rammed in to bear the load of the superstructure. Like fortification walls in other Harappan sites, this one also slopes upwards to give it strength and life…
In the second year (season) of excavation, the team unearthed the citadel and went on to locate the factory area where it found evidence of a lot of industrial activity, including shell-working. There was tell-tale evidence of bead-making. A variety of beads made of copper, shell and terracotta, and semi-precious stones were found in abundance. Copper objects, including needles, knives, fish hooks, arrowheads and weights were found. What is puzzling is that no copper figurines of animals, as found in other sites, were found here.
When the ASI team dug up a mound, it encountered evidence of a five-metre-deep structure, going back to 2600 BCE. This earliest structure was made of stones with mud bricks used in between.”
“We have found furnaces and a tandoor. There is evidence of copper-working and ash. We have found huge quantities of steatite beads and some seals made of steatite. From all this evidence, we have identified it as a fortified factory site.”
Copper fish-hook found in a trench, Khirsara.
Bar seal with Meluhha hieroglyphs discovered at Khirsara (one among 11 seals found; two are shown below):
A bar seal with writing in Harappan script. Only one other bar seal figures in the total of 11 seals found so far in Khirsara. The entire metalware catalog of the inscription on the tablet reads:meḍ 'iron'+ tagaram'tin'+ dul aduru 'cast native metal'.+ ayah, ayas 'metal' + aduru = ore taken from the mine and not subjected to melting in a furnace+ dhātu 'mineral'+ kolimi kanka 'smithy/forge account (scribe)'.
Thus, the smithy forge account is for iron, tin, cast native metal, unsmelted native metal, metal (alloy), mineral.
A bar seal with writing in Harappan script. Only one other bar seal figures in the total of 11 seals found so far in Khirsara.
Rebus readings of Indus writing (from r.): मेंढरी [ mēṇḍharī ] f A piece in architecture. मेंधला [mēndhalā] m In architecture. A common term for the two upper arms of a double चौकठ (door-frame) connecting the two. Called also मेंढरी & घोडा. It answers to छिली the name of the two lower arms or connections. (Marathi) meḍhi ‘pillar’. Rebus: meḍ'iron'.
tagaraka 'tabernae montana' Rebus: tagaram'tin' (Malayalam)
sangaḍa ‘bangles’ (Pali). Rebus: sangaḍa ‘lathe, furnace’. saghaḍī = furnace (G.) Rebus: jaṅgaḍ ‘entrustment articles’ sangaḍa ‘association, guild’. dula 'pair' Rebus: dul ‘casting’.
Ku. koṭho ʻlarge square houseʼ Rebus: Md. kořāru ʻstorehouseʼ
aḍar ‘harrow’ Rebus: aduru = gaṇiyinda tegadu karagade iruva aduru = ore taken from the mine and not subjected to melting in a furnace (Kannada) dula 'pair' Rebus: dul ‘casting’. Thus the composite glyph reds dul aduru 'cast native metal'.
ayo ‘fish’ (Mu.) Rebus: aya = iron (G.); ayah, ayas = metal (Skt.)
aḍar ‘harrow’ Rebus: aduru = gan.iyinda tegadu karagade iruva aduru = ore taken from the mine and not subjected to melting in a furnace (Kannada)
ḍato = claws of crab (Santali); dhātu = mineral (Skt.), dhatu id. (Santali)
kanka 'rim-of-jar' Rebus: furnace account (scribe); khanaka 'miner' (Skt.). kolom 'three' Rebus: kolami 'smithy, forge' (Telugu) The ligature of three strokes with rim-of-jar hieroglyph thus reads: kolimi kanka 'smithy/forge account (scribe)'.
Links:
http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2014/01/aratta-as-meluhha-speech-area-re.html
S. Kalyanaraman
Sarasvati Research Center
January 28, 2014