Indus Valley Civilization was one of the worlds first great civilization. It is also known as Harappan civilization. In Gujarat Rangpur in Limdi Taluka of Ahmedabad district was the first site, which was re-excavated after independence as it was suspected to be a Harappan outpost. Rangpur represented a late phase of the mature Harappan culture. Further surveys of the peninsulas of Saurashtra and Kutch and the mainland of Gujarat from 1954 to 1958 brought to light different phases of the Harappan civilization and thereby added a new province to the Indus Empire. The discoveries extended the civilization by 500 km upto the north of the river Kim where another small Harappan part, Bhagatrav, gives access to the agate bearing mines and forest hills of the Narmada Tapi Valleys.
Around 2500 B.C., the Harappans probably started infiltrating into Kutch and settled down there with an amazing speed and strength. So far 60 Indus settlements have been found in Kutch. Out of them about 40 belong to the 'early' phase and the remaining represent the late phase of the mature Harappan culture.
Kutch is an area worthy of interest both for archaeologists and historians. It has a long and chaquered history of its own. Its history goes back upto Jurassic period of which very little is known to us. But recently it prehistoric and proto-historic materials have come to light. Not less than 26 pre-historic sites have been so far noticed, which are yet to be excavated. They are Mora, Selari, Surkotada, Korasi, Pabumath and Lakhapar (in Rapar Taluka), Narapal, Vadaluna, Samaghogha, Desalpar, Kotada and Bhadli (in Nakhatrana Taluka), Kharika Khanda and Kanthakot (in Bhachau Taluka), Jangar and Pirwad (in Anjar Taluka).
The Monoliths Site: It is a cluster of the famous and impressive Nartiang megaliths or monoliths covering a wide complex of nearly 100 meters in diameter. The tallest and biggest of the monoliths is about 8 meters in height, 2 meters in breadth and 0.46 meters in thickness. Bordering in the north is the Nartiang weekly bazaar. The site is one of the most significant symbolic wonders of the megalithic or monolithic culture in the country as a whole and had been also declared as the "Monument of National Importance". The Monument is said to be associated with the establishment of Nartiang as the second hills capital as well as the principal market kingdom.
The Ruin Royal Palace: On a hillock to the south, about a kilometer from the site of the megaliths or monoliths complex is located the site of the ruin royal palace with large premises with an alignment planned to be encompassed with brick walls on all sides. However, this ambitious plan could not be undertaken. The only part that was completed was a portion of the said brick wall facing north with an arch gate provided at the middle.The Durga Temple: Inside the complex, just a few yards from the main gateway is situated a temple dedicated to the goddess Durga. It is said that in this temple human sacrifice had been performed in ancient days.
The Shiva Temple: The forth site is a Shiva temple situated on the top of a hillock over-looking the village about 300 meters. West of the site of the Durga temple. It is inside this temple that old guns used by the Jaintia Rajas as their weaponry are being kept till date.
