Excavations at a newly discovered Mature Harappan site in the Sabarmati basin of Gujarat have revealed a sophisticated educational and industrial sector. Archaeologists have identified the area as a Gemstone-Polishing Academy, where apprentice craftsmen were trained in the precision arts of lapidary work. The site contains hundreds of practice beads alongside master-level finished ornaments made of carnelian, agate, and jasper.
A unique feature of this discovery is the presence of specialized ceramic vats containing traces of corundum dust, a high-hardness mineral used as an abrasive. These vats were part of a standardized polishing system that allowed the Harappans to achieve the mirror-like finish famous in their export markets. The find also includes a residential wing for instructors, complete with administrative sealings that record the movement of raw minerals from the nearby hills.