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	==See also==		==See also==
	~~{{Portal\|India}}~~

	* [[Indus Valley Civilization]]		* [[Indus Valley Civilization]]

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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name = Kunal
|settlement_type=Archaeological site
|image_skyline =
|image_caption=
|image_seal =
|image_map =
|map_caption =
|pushpin_map=India Haryana#India
|subdivision_type = [[Countries of the world|Country]]
|subdivision_type1 = [[Provinces of India|Province]]
|subdivision_name = India
|subdivision_name1 =[[Haryana]]
|subdivision_type2 = Fatehabad
|subdivision_name2 =
|subdivision_type3 =
|subdivision_name3 =
|leader_title =
|leader_name =
|area_magnitude =
|area_total_km2 =
|area_land_km2 =
|area_water_km2 =
|population_as_of =
|population_footnotes =
|population_total =
|population_metro =
|population_density_km2 =
|timezone = Indian Standard Time
|utc_offset = +5.30
|timezone_DST =
|coordinates = {{coord|29|37.3|N|75|39.5|E|display=inline,title}}
}}

'''Kunal''' is a [[Periodisation_of_the_Indus_Valley_Civilisation#Early,_Mature_and_Late_Harappan|Pre-Harappan]] [[Indus Valley Civilisation]] settlement located in [[Fatehabad district|Fatehabad]] district of [[Haryana]] state in India. Compared to other IVC sites, such as cities like [[Rakhigarhi]] and towns like [[Kalibangan]], Kunal site was a village.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/in-haryana-s-kunal-village-a-glimpse-of-life-before-harappa/story-wLMx93XxwQwMNMEsTwEp0J.html|title=In Haryana's Kunal village, a glimpse of life before Harappa}}</ref> Excavation at Kunal show 3 successive phases of Pre-Harappan indigenous culture on the Saraswati river who also traded with Kalibanga and [[Lothal]].<ref name=hargazc1/> Kunal, along with its other contemporary sites [[Bhirrana]] and [[Rakhigarhi]] on [[Sarasvati River|Sarasvati]]-[[Ghaggar-Hakra River|Ghaggar]] river system,<ref name=ku1/><ref name=jane/> is recognised as the oldest Pre-Harappan settlement,<ref name=jane/><ref name=bus1/> with Kunal being an older cultural ancestor to [[Rehman Dheri]] in Pakistan<<ref name=asi1/> which is on the Tentative List for future World Heritage Sites.<ref>[https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/1877/ Karez System Cultural Landscape], [[UNESCO]], accessed 10 July 2021.</ref>

Kunal is 12 km southeast of [[Ratia]], 30 km northwest of [[Bhuna, Fatehabad|Bhuna]], 30 km northeast of [[Fatehabad, Haryana|Fatehabad]], 70 km north of [[Hisar (city)|Hisar]], 190 km southwest of [[Chandigarh]], 230 km northwest from [[Delhi]],

==Background ==

===Site location ===

Site is located closer to other important IVC sites, such as 18 km northeast of Bhirrana, 45 km northeast of [[Banawali]], 80 km northwest of Rakhigarhi, 85 km west of [[Balu, Haryana]], and 150 km northeast of [[Jognakhera]].

From ''Digoh-Kunal Road'', on the spot where a yellow metal board with red colored [[Hindi language|Hindi]] letters announces ''"Harrappa kalin sthal"'' (Harappan era site) with a painted red arrow below it pointing in the direction of the site,<ref name=bus1/> a 700 m long unpaved rural farm track to the west of ''Digoh-Kunal Road'' leads to this site. The site is immediate north (on right hand side) of the track. This track, perpendicular to both, connects ''Digoh-Kunal Road'' and ''Dholu-Mohammadpur Sotter Road''.

===History of excavations===

After 1986 discovery of Kunbal as IVC site, it has been in 1992-93, 1996-97, 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2001-2002, 2002-2003, 2017-present as of 2021.
<ref name=bus1>[https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/in-haryana-s-kunal-village-a-glimpse-of-life-before-harappa/story-wLMx93XxwQwMNMEsTwEp0J.html In Haryana's Kunal village, a glimpse of life before Harappa ], Hindustan Times, 19 MAY 2019.</ref> Excavations has been undertaken by various entities including, the [[Archaeological Survey of India]] (ASI), [[Indian Archaeological Society]] (IAS), [[National Museum of India]] (NMI, and the [[Haryana State Directorate of Archaeology & Museums|Haryana Archaeological Department]] (HAD).<ref name=ku1/> Excavations here are usually done in non-rainy season.

== Kunal culture ==
{{anchor | Culture | Kunal culture | Kunal Culture }}
{{see also | Pottery in the Indian subcontinent#History | l1= Pottery of Archaeological culture | Pottery#Archaeology | l2= Archaeological analysis of pottery | Pottery#Fabric | l3= Fabric analysis of pottery | Archaeological culture }}

'''Kunal culture''': Based on the [[pottery]] found here, it is classified as a separate archaeological culture / subculture.<ref name=dis1>[https://www.dailypioneer.com/2018/state-editions/the-harappan-civilisation-its-sub-cultures.html The Harappan Civilisation: Its Sub-cultures], Daily Pioneer, 10 May 2018.</ref>

===Cultural context ===
{{see also | Archaeological culture | Chronological dating | l2= Archaeological cultural dating | Phase (archaeology) | l3= Phases in archaeology | Pottery_in_the_Indian_subcontinent#Signifiance | l4= Tools and technology of archaeology | Pottery in the Indian subcontinent | l5= Pottery culture in Indian subcontinent }}

The earliest site of this culture is Kunal (4000 BCE)<ref name=asi1/> in Haryana which is older than Rehman Dheri (3300 BCE).<ref name=un1/> The ''type site'', the first excavated site of this type of culture is Kot Diji.<ref name=dd1/> Rehman Dheri, which was considered oldest example of this culture, is now the second oldest example of this culture after Kunal was excavated and found to be older than Rehman Dher with similar older cultural artifacts then the Rehman Dheri.<ref name=asi1/>

Kot Diji and Amri are close to each other in Sindh, they earlier developed indigenous culture which had common elements, later they came in contact with Harappan culture and fully developed into Harappan culture. Earliest examples of artifacts belonging to this culture were found at Rehman Dheri, however, later excavations found the oldest example of this culture at Kunal. These are cultural ancestor to site at [[Harappa]]. These sites have pre-Harappan indigenous cultural levels, distinct from the culture of Harappa, these are at Banawali (level I), Kot Diji (level 3A), Amri (level II}. Rehman Dheri also has a pre Kot Diji phase (RHD1 3300-28 BCE) which are not part of IVC culture. Kot Diji has two later phases that continue into and along side Mature Harappan Phase (RHDII and RHDII 2500-2100 BCE). Fortified towns found here are dated as follows.<ref name=dd1>Charles Keith Maisels, [https://books.google.ca/books?id=I2dgI2ijww8C&pg=PA216 ''Early Civilizations of the Old World: The Formative Histories of Egypt, The Levant, Mesopotamia, India and China.''] Routledge, 2003 {{ISBN|1134837305}}</ref><ref name=asi1/><ref name="Higham2009">{{cite book|first=Charles |last=Higham|title=Encyclopedia of Ancient Asian Civilizations|url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=H1c1UIEVH9gC|page=9}}|date=1 January 2009|publisher=Infobase Publishing|isbn=978-1-4381-0996-1|pages=9–}}</ref><ref name=dd2>Sigfried J. de Laet, Ahmad Hasan Dani, eds. [https://books.google.com/books?id=BnY0KYbJC6wC&pg=PA674 ''History of Humanity: From the third millennium to the seventh century B.C.''] UNESCO, 1996 {{ISBN|9231028111}} p.674</ref><ref name=tej1>Tejas Garge (2010), [http://www.ancient-asia-journal.com/articles/10.5334/aa.10203/ Sothi-Siswal Ceramic Assemblage: A Reappraisal.] Ancient Asia. 2, pp.15–40. {{DOI|10.5334/aa.10203}}</ref>

* Kunal (5000/4000 BCE- ),<ref name=asi1/> in [[Hisar district]] of [[Haryana]] in India is the earliest site found with layers in phase I dating back to 5000 BCE<ref name=hargazc1>[http://revenueharyana.gov.in/Portals/0/hr-gaz-ch-5.pdf Haryana Gazateer], Revennue Dept of Haryana, Capter-V.</ref> and 4000 BCE,<ref name=asi1/> site's culture is an older ancestry of the Pre-Harappan site of Rehman Dheri which was dated to 3300 BC. A button seal was discovered at Kunal during 1998-99 excavations by [[Archaeological Survey of India]]. The seal is similar to the Rehman Dheri examples. It contained a picture of two deer on one side, and geometrical pattern on other side. The similar specimen from Rehman-Dheri is datable to {{circa|4000 BCE}}, which makes Kunal site an older ancestor of Rehman Dheri.<ref name=asi1>{{cite journal|last=Archaeological Survey of|first=India|title=Excavations at Kunal,Haryana|journal=Indian Archaeology 1998-99 a Review|year=2004|pages=11–12|url=http://asi.nic.in/nmma_reviews/Indian%20Archaeology%201998-99%20A%20Review.pdf|access-date=13 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120508064754/http://asi.nic.in/nmma_reviews/Indian%20Archaeology%201998-99%20A%20Review.pdf|archive-date=8 May 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> The second phase of Kunal corresponds to ''post-[[neolithic]] phase of Hakra culture' (also called [[Periodisation_of_the_Indus_Valley_Civilisation#Early,_Mature_and_Late_Harappan|Early Harappan Phase, c.3300-2800 BCE or c.5000-2800 BCE]]) was also found.<ref name=ku1>[https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/museum-at-pre-harappan-site-soon-188106 Museum at pre-Harappan site soon], The Tribune, 23 Dec 2020.</ref>
* [[Kot Diji]] (3300 BCE),<ref name=un1/> is the [[type site]], located in [[Sindh]] in Pakistan.
* [[Amri (Pre-Harappa)|Amri]] (3600–3300 BCE), also has non-Harappan phases during 6000 BC to 4000 BC, and later Harappan Phases till 1300 BCE.
* [[Kalibangan]] (3500 BC – 2500 BC),<ref name=tej1/> in northwest Rajasthan in India on [[Hakra|Ghaggar]] River.
* [[Rehman Dheri]], 3300 BCE,<ref name=un1>[[UNESCO]] [https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/1877/ Karez System Cultural Landscape]</ref> near [[Dera Ismail Khan]] and close to [[Zhob River|River Zhob]] Valleyin [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]] in Pakistan.

===Significance===
{{anchor | Periodisation of the Indus Valley Civilisation }}

Kunal, along with its contemporary Kunal and Bhirrana as well as Rakhigarhi,<ref name=ku1/> is recognised as the oldest pre-Harappan settlement.<ref name=jane/><ref name=bus1/> The carbon dating of Bhirrana site revealed that it dated back to 7030 BC (9,000 years old). The excavation in Kunal has show that it is contemporary to the Pre-Harappa phase of Bhirrana site - the oldest Indus civilisation site - 18 km from Kunal. The artifacts found at Kunal have provided significant information about the "lifestyle, socio-economic milieu and food habit of the people who lived along the Sarasvati River in the ancient times. Kunal, Bhirrana and Rakhigarhi were contemporary habitation sites". The [[hoard]] containing gold beads and copper rings at Kunal are evidence of developed village farming communities with trade links to far-flung countries for the import of metal and precious stones which are not found in this area.<ref name=ku1>[https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/museum-at-pre-harappan-site-soon-188106 Museum at pre-Harappan site soon], The Tribune, 23 Dec 2020.</ref> Discovery of a button seal during 1998-99 excavations by ASI shows this site's culture is an older ancestry of the [[Rehman Dheri]].<ref name=asi1/>

===Kunal culture is older ancestor of Pre-Harappan Rehman Dheri ===

Discovery of a button seal during 1998-99 excavations by ASI shows this site's culture is an older ancestry of the Pre-Harappan site of Rehman Dheri which was dated to 3300 BC.<ref name=asi1>{{cite journal|last=Archaeological Survey of|first=India|title=Excavations at Kunal,Haryana|journal=Indian Archaeology 1998-99 a Review|year=2004|pages=11–12|url=http://asi.nic.in/nmma_reviews/Indian%20Archaeology%201998-99%20A%20Review.pdf|access-date=13 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120508064754/http://asi.nic.in/nmma_reviews/Indian%20Archaeology%201998-99%20A%20Review.pdf|archive-date=8 May 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> This seal found at Kunal, datable to {{circa|4000 BCE}}, contained a picture of two deer on one side and a geometrical pattern on other side, which is similar to a specimen from Rehman-Dheri in [[ Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]].<ref name=asi1/>

===Earliest Pre-Harappan site ===

This site is recognised as an earliest Pre-Harappan site,<ref name=jane/> with three successive phases of Pre-Harappan indigenous culture on the [[Saraswati river]] who also traded with Kalibanga and [[Lothal]]. The discovery of [[wikt:Regalis|regalis]] (royal items) excavated from this mound are the oldest of its kind in the [[Indian subcontinent]], [[Central Asia]] and [[Iran]].<ref name=hargazc1>[http://revenueharyana.gov.in/Portals/0/hr-gaz-ch-5.pdf Haryana Gazateer], Revennue Dept of Haryana, Capter-V.</ref> Discoveries include woman's complete dress, tribal head attire, copper spearheads, [[Soapstone|steatite]] seals with geometrical patterns (indicating seal making in IVC first begun here), terracotta antiques, arrowheads, fish hooks, two crowns, bangles, silver beads, gold pendants and over 12,000 beads of semi precious stones including [[lapis lazuli]].<ref name=hargazc1/>

* ''First phase:'' Dates back to 5,000 years ago is the oldest habitation, which has large dwelling pits of 1.10 m depth and 2 m diameter, whose [[omnivorous]] inhabitants also used [[Chalcedony]] blades, fish hooks, pottery wheels, domesticated plants and animals.<ref name=hargazc1/> This site yielded [[Hakra Ware culture|Hakra ware]] at entry level. Houses were built on an artificially elevated place.<ref name=singh>{{cite book|last=Singh|first=Upinder|title=A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India : from the Stone Age to the 12th century|year=2008|publisher=Pearson Education|location=New Delhi|isbn=9788131711200|pages=109, 145–6|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H3lUIIYxWkEC&q=kunal}}</ref>

* ''Second phase:'' The dwellings are made of moulded bricks.<ref name=hargazc1/> A dwelling pit of two metre diameter belonging to ''post-[[neolithic]] phase of Hakra culture'' (also called [[Periodisation_of_the_Indus_Valley_Civilisation#Early,_Mature_and_Late_Harappan|Early Harappan Phase, c.3300-2800 BCE or c.5000-2800 BCE]]) was also found.<ref name=ku1/>

* ''Third phase:'' The final phase of excavation belongs to agriculturists who also reared domesticated animals and lived in houses containing living rooms, kitchens, toilets square and rectangular rooms built with bricks of standardised length-breadth-height ratio.<ref name=hargazc1/>

==Artifacts ==

Designs on pottery included [[Peepal tree|pipal leaves]] (''ficus religiosa'') and [[Zebu|humped bull]]<ref name=singh/> which were important motifs found on Mature Harappan seals. Bone tools, micro blades made of [[chalcedony]], copper fish hooks and arrow heads were also found here.<ref name=singh/> Six [[steatite]] seals and one shell seal with geometric patterns were found.<ref name=singh/> These six seals were of square shape, made of grey stone and resembled typical Mature Harappan seals.<ref name=jane/> Also found at this site are copper rods, rings, bangle pieces, terracotta objects like bangles, balls, animal figurines, net-sinker, toy cart frames, disk and toys, stone balls, shell bangles etc.<ref name=asi1/>

===Hoards===

Large [[hoard]]s of jewellery were found at this location, including two silver [[tiara]]s, gold ornaments, beads of semi precious stones etc.<ref name=singh/> Number of hoards found at this site included silver bangle, copper tools etc.<ref name=jane>{{cite book|last=McIntosh|first=Jane R.|title=The Ancient Indus Valley : New Perspectives|year=2008|publisher=ABC-CLIO|location=Santa Barbara, Calif.|isbn=9781576079072|pages=68, 80,82,105,113|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1AJO2A-CbccC&q=kunal}}</ref>

===Copper smelting===
Excavations on south-west side of mound revealed copper furnaces with smelting material and copper ingots and slags were also found at this site.<ref name=asi1/>

===Rice===
Rice (probably wild) is found from Kunal as well as from [[Balu, Haryana|Balu]], both in Haryana.<ref name=jane/>

==Conservation and threats ==

===In-situ museum ===

[[Kunal Indus Valley Civilisation Museum]], is an under construction in-situ museum announced by the Haryana government in December 2020. The [[Haryana State Directorate of Archaeology & Museums|HAD]] will finalise the design and state's Public Works Department will undertake the construction/<ref name=ku1/>

===Protected status and threats ===

Kunal site has been granted the protected status by the [[Government of Haryana]] which has also constructed a boundary wall around it for protection. This unguarded important site remains under the threat of encroachment and theft.re<ref name=bus1/> Experts have demanded specific project for surveying the largest area with ground penetrating radars to determine the exact extant of the site and subsequent land acquisition by the government for its preservation.

Conservationists and villagers have demanded that the 1.2 km long unpaved track, connecting two paved roads, to the site must also be paved after changing its alignment (if needed) based on the ground penetrating radar surveys.

==See also==
{{Portal|India}}

* [[Indus Valley Civilization]]

** [[List of Indus Valley Civilization sites]]
*** [[Bhirrana]], 4 phases of IVC with earliest dated to 8th-7th millennium BCE
*** [[Kalibanga]], an IVC town and fort with several phases starting from Early harappan phase
*** [[Rakhigarhi]], one of the largest IVC city with 4 phases of IVC with earliest dated to 8th-7th millennium BCE
*** Kunal, pre harappan cultural ancestor of [[Rehman Dheri]]

** [[List of inventions and discoveries of the Indus Valley Civilization]]
*** [[Hydraulic engineering of the Indus Valley Civilization]]
*** [[Sanitation of the Indus Valley Civilisation]]

** [[Periodisation of the Indus Valley Civilisation]]

** [[Pottery in the Indian subcontinent]]
*** [[Bara culture]], subtype of Late-Harappan Phase
*** [[Black and red ware]], belonging to neolithic and Pre-Harappan phases
*** [[#Culture|Kunal culture]], subtype of Pre-Harappan Phase
*** [[Siswal#Sothi|Sothi-Siswal culture]], subtype of Pre-Harappan Phase
*** [[Cemetery H culture]] (2000-1400 BC), early Indo-Aryan pottery at IVC sites later evolved into [[Painted Grey Ware culture]] of [[Vedic period]]

** [[Rakhigarhi Indus Valley Civilisation Museum]]

* [[History of Haryana]]
** [[List of Monuments of National Importance in Haryana]]
** [[List of State Protected Monuments in Haryana]]

==References==
===Citations ===
{{reflist}}

===External links===
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=1AJO2A-CbccC Location of Kunal and other IVC sites]

{{Indus Valley Civilization}}
{{Tourism in India}}
{{Haryana}}

[[Category:Pre-Indus Valley Civilisation sites]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Haryana]]
[[Category:Former populated places in India]]

{{Haryana-geo-stub}}
{{Asia-archaeology-stub}}

Kunal, Haryana - Revision history

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