Recent Indus Discoveries and

Highlights from Excavations at

Harappa 1998-2000
Harappa Phase Occupation: Granary or Great
Hall

One of the most famous buildings at Harappa is the

so-called "Great Granary" (Trench II) that was first
excavated under the supervision of Rai Bahadur Daya
Ram Sahni and Madho Sarup Vats between 1921 and
1929 (Vats 1940). Excavations during three seasons
(1997 to 1999) were undertaken at three corners of
the "granary" or Great Hall to investigate its phases of
construction. Two additional trenches were laid out in
adjacent areas to the northeast and southeast to
better understand the stratigraphic relationship of the
Great Hall to other areas of Mound F. These
excavations also revealed the presence of a mud brick
perimeter wall along the north edge of Mound F that
probably articulates with a wall discovered along the
western edge of the mound. In both areas the wall is
over 14 meters wide and built up through several
phases of construction.

Figure 6: Harappa 1999, Mound F, Trench 41,

southeast corner of the Great Granary or Great Hall.

There are three major building episodes that have

been defined in the area of the Great Hall (Figure 6).
The earliest structure is represented by a single wall
that is oriented east-west and lies directly below the
second major building, the Great Hall. The Great Hall
was first modified with the addition of an external
mud-brick platform and subsequently completely
filled with clay. On top of this new platform the Later
Hall was built. Although it is disappointing to have to
state that the actual use of these buildings remains
unknown, it is possible to confirm that there is no
direct evidence for their use as granaries (Meadow,
Kenoyer and Wright 1999).

Figure 7: Harappa 1999, Mound F, Trench 41,

southeast corner of the Great Granary or Great Hall.

{Reprinted by permission from: Meadow, R.H. and J.M.

Kenoyer (2001) Recent discoveries and highlights
from excavations at Harappa: 1998-2000. INDO-
KOKO-KENKYU [Indian Archaeological Studies] 22:
19-36.}

Richard H. Meadow
Jonathan Mark Kenoyer
Recent Indus Discoveries and Highlights from
Excavations at Harappa 1998-2000