Cemetery H culture
Topic: Harappan (Sindhu-Sarasvati) Civilisation · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Cemetery H culture is a Late Harappan culture of the Punjab region. It is named after "Cemetery H", a burial ground at Harappa. It came after the city phase ended, from around c. 1900 BCE. It is known for its painted red pottery and for burials in which remains were placed inside urns (pots). It shows that people went on living in the area after the cities declined, but with new customs.
Example
At Harappa itself, Cemetery H burials lie above the Mature Harappan levels. Their pottery and burial customs differ from those of the earlier city. This is a clear case of a "successor culture" growing in the same place once urban life faded.
Don't confuse with
- Mature Harappan cemetery at Harappa: this is the older city-phase burial ground, where the dead were laid in pits with pottery and ornaments, not placed in urns.
Related concepts
- Decline of the Harappan civilisation
- 4.2 kiloyear event
- Late Harappan phase
- Jhukar culture
- Sinauli
- Thirsty crow pot
- Aryan invasion theory
- Mortimer Wheeler
- Mythical massacre at Mohenjo-daro