Navjot Kour
The Jammu region stands as a remarkable point of convergence, where the vast plains of the Punjab meet the towering mountains of the Himalayas, creating a unique blend of cultures and histories. This geographical setting gives Jammu a strategic advantage, positioning its outer plains as a crucial crossroads between key urban centres of the Himalayan highlands to the north and the fertile plains of Punjab to the south.
This prime location has not only facilitated a vibrant network of connections but also shaped the cultural history of the Jammu plains, with roots stretching back nearly 5000 years. The area’s significance is underscored by the commencement of civilisational discourse in the form of two important archaeological sites-Manda, an Indus Valley site, and Malpur, a Neolithic site -both located in the Akhnoor belt. As the general distribution of Harappan sites is in the southern plains and the Neolithic sites up in the highlands, these two sites highlight the role of the plains of Jammu as a corridor linking the distinct geographic and cultural zones.
The archaeological importance of the area was duly recognised from the 1960s onwards in the form of documentation of sites in the review reports by the Archaeological Survey of India. Reconnaissance surveys were undertaken in the entire area of Jammu, resulting in the formation of a dataset repository with their basic cultural context. However, this information was mostly fragmented resulting in a patchy historical discourse, nevertheless providing a formative ground for future research.
Reinvestigations in the area since 2015 have highlighted the importance of the plains of Jammu in an entirely new light. While evidence of habitation in the area during the Harappan and Neolithic period (around 2500 BCE)remains scanty, the region witnessed a thrust of settlement in about the 5th-4thcentury BCE. This manifestation of archaeological heritage in the area is in the form of mounds dotted across RS Pura and Akhnoor districts. In addition, archaeological sites could also be mound-less landscapes with cultural signatures e.g., pottery fragments spread across an area. Explorations in the area also resulted in the documentation of more than 50 sites, in both categories mentioned above. A huge corpus of artefacts was recovered from these in the form of pottery pieces. In addition, radiocarbon dates from two archaeological sites of Biyan Tibba and Satowali were obtained which provided corroboration to the relative dating,achieved by comparing pottery pieces.These dates were obtained from the charcoal samples sent to Paleo-Labo, Co. Ltd, in Japan.
The study revealed that Jammu had a limited number of settlements during the Harappan period – either eroded or buried under thick alluvium by the erratic rivers in the area, or in need of a compelling external factor for establishing settlements. The latter, in fact, arrived much later, in the 5th-4thcentury BCE, when Uttarapatha – a 6th-5th century BCE trade route in South Asia connecting north-western India with Gangetic plains and beyond -was activated. This route had several smaller feeder routes with one such route passing through Jammu, leading to the flourishing of small settlements concentrated majorly in the plains of RS Pura and Akhnoor.
During the Kushana period in the first century CE, the number of sites grew substantially and radiated out in different micro environments, owing to apparent population pressure. Buddhism flourished, and a regionally important site in the form of Ambaran emerged. The area of Jammu, therefore, with its smaller settlements, probably catered to the needs of the metropolises around it. This meant the acquisition of raw materials from the adjoining hilly tracts, commuting them through land routes and water routes to the urban centres.The succeeding Gupta and Post-Gupta periods witnessed novel embellishments in potterydesigns, signifying the continued flow of ideas through the routes. In this regard, the discovery of a specific pottery type called Rangmahal, with highly stylised painting design from the area is noteworthy. Traces of reconstruction at the site of Ambaran during this period indicate the uninterrupted significance of the site before its decline in the 7th century CE.
Archaeological research in the area is further developed using Remote sensing and GIS techniques at the Catalan Institute of Classical Archaeology, Tarragona, Spain. The ongoing research is a part of the methodological framework which aims to understand the transformational patterns of archaeological landscape in the area over the years, the evolutionary dynamics of regional river networks,and to detect potential archaeological sites.The present research has helped to unravel the historical narrative of the area in linearity. The significance of the area could be attributed to two major factors: firstly, the facilitation of trade networking between plains and highlands via waterways and land routes; and secondly,tapping the resources and acquisition of raw materials from the higher reaches.
Recognising the historical importance of these sites in Jammu, various initiatives have been undertaken to safeguard them. These efforts include not only preservation activities but also instilling a sense of shared heritage among the local community and the academic fraternity.
At the grassroots level, initiatives have been undertaken to involve the local community, particularly schoolchildren, in heritage conservation. Recently, an educational outreach program was conducted in RS Pura, where young students were introduced to the basics of archaeology. This program aimed for an appreciative sentiment for their local heritage from an early age. The initiative included a visit to a nearby archaeological mound, giving students a hands-on learning experience and a deeper understanding of their region’s rich history.Engagement with the academic community has been equally robust. Researchers and scholars have been actively involved in the discourse surrounding Jammu’s heritage. Beyond publications, numerous academic lectures have been delivered at state, national and international levels, sharing insights and findings from ongoing research. These presentations serve not only to advance academic knowledge but also to bring global attention to the archaeological heritage of the Jammu region.
Apart from this, the future of cultural heritage preservation in the plains of Jammu is in the hands of several stakeholders. The primary representatives i.e. the local population should be made aware of their distant past. In this endeavour, the local NGOs could make significant contributions. This could include efforts to conduct heritage walks, seminars and workshops. From a more academic perspective, establishing academic centres and institutions can give impetus to archaeological activities in the area, leading to the boosting of collective cultural consciousness among the masses
(The author is Research Associate Catalan Institute
of Classical Archaeology (ICAC) Tarragona, Spain)
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