Indus Valley

Civilization
HISTORY

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Indus Valley Civilization

Indus Valley Civilisation(BC 2500-1500) was the period in which the development of human culture was
witnessed in which people started looking beyond the satisfaction of material needs. Let’s study the Indus
valley civilization:

What is the Indus Valley civilization?

 It was the first modern civilization ever witnessed around BC 2500.

 It was extended from Kabul in Afghanistan, Kashmir at the North to the Gulf of Khambhat in Gujrat at the
South. While at the east it extended up to Uttarpradesh and towards the Iran border at the west.

 Westmost site: Sutkagendor (Pakistan); Eastmost site: Alamgirpur (UP); Northernmost site: Manda,
Jammu; Southmost site: Daimabad (Maharashtra)

 It was the first civilization whose archaeological evidences are well identified and under exploration.

 The sites existed mostly across the rivers or near coasts.

 It showed the connection of trade with other parts of civilization like Pharaohs(Egypt) and Sumerians
(Iraq).

 The livelihood was similar to what we are living today.

 Modern archaeologists have established a probable chronology and periodization:

1. Pre-Harappan – BCE 7000 - 3500

2. Early Harappan – BCE 3500 - 2800

3. Mature Harappan – BCE 2800 - 1900

4. Late Harappan – BCE 1900 - 1500

5. Post Harappan/ Vedic Age – BCE 1500 - 600 AD

 Following is the map of sites that existed during the Indus valley civilization:

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Source: Wikipedia.com.

 Sites predicted tobe exists according to the following timelines:

Periodization Characteristics

Realization of the idea of having settled life emerged.

Early Harappan BC 3500-2800:
Mohenjo-Daro, Mehrgarh, Jodhpura, Padri

Origin of the process of civilization.

Early Harappan/Mature Harappan
Efforts were made to start living in colonies.
Transition BC 2800-2700
Kumal, Nausharo, Kot Diji, Nari

Integration era in which there was an adoption of modern civilization

administrative methods.
Mature Harappan BC 2800-1900:
Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro, Suktagendor, Dholavira, Rakhigarhi, and
Banawali Shortgua, Lothal

Localization era in which different cities started witnessing the

differences of opinions amongst the people in terms of crimes, fights,
etc. Lothal, Bet, Dwarka
Late Harappan BC 1900-1500:
Five geographical zones can be found in this phase : The western Punjab
Phase, The Eastern Punjab Phase, The Jhukar Phase, The Rangpur
Phase, The Ganga-yamuna Doab Phase.

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Evidence
 There are a lot of countries’ Archeological departments that have been investing to understand the
Indus Valley civilization. Eg. India, Pakistan, France, Sweden, etc. Due to the efforts of Archeologists,
we can find out the following evidence:

Location River Excavations

 Excavated by RD Bannerji in 1922.

 The following items had been found,
 Pashupati seal
 Stone figure of a priest
Mohenjodaro  Dancing girl: bronze figure
Indus
(Pakistan)  Great bath
 Granaries for storing grains
 Terracotta figure of Mother goddess
 Bearded man
 Cotton production was there.

 Excavated by Daya Ram Sahni in 1921-1923.

 The following items had been found,
Harappan  Graveyard popularly called ‘R-37’ burial
(Punjab region of Ravi  Coffin burials
 Granaries with small quarters
Pakistan)
 In the burials, children were found with a head having a hole in the skull. There
is research going on regarding its significance.

 Excavated by BB Lal in 1961.

 The following items had been found,
Kalibangan  Priest quarters
Ghaggar  Fire pits
(Rajasthan)  Plough marks
 Double cropping pattern
 Bronze bull

Bhogava  Excavated by SR Rao in 1954.

Lothal
and  The following items had been found,
Sabarmati  Twin burials
(Gujrat)
river  Terracotta model of plough
Confluence  Manchester of India: Highest crop production was witnessed.

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 Cotton production was there.

Alamgirpur
Hindon  The following items had been found,
(UP)  Broken blade made up of copper
 Ceramic items

 Excavated by JP Joshi in 1967-68.

 Jaws of a horse were found.
 Stone constructions for houses and granaries were there.
Dholavira,
 Giant water reservoir
Kuchchh
(Gujrat)  Unique water harvesting system
 Stadium
 Inscription consisting of 10 large size signs, similar to a signboard.
 Shows all three phases of Harappan Culture.

 Excavated by NG Majumdar in 1931.

 The site was along the Indus river.
 The following items had been found,
Chanhudaro  Bangle Factory.
Indus
(Pakistan)  Ink Pot.
 Bead makers shop.
 The footprint of a dog chasing a cat.
 It is the only city without a citadel

● Site excavated at Sindh region.

Kot Diji
Sindh ● Mother goddess statue was found.
(Pakistan)
● A Bull statue was found.

● Found at Kutch district Gujrat.

● The massive stone fortification was found.
Desalpur
● Harappan pottery was a famous thing.
(Gujrat)
● Three script-bearing seals such as one of steatite, one of copper, and one of
terracotta were found.

 Excavated by JP Joshi in 1967-68.

 It was a coastal city at Kuchh Gujrat.
Surkotada
 It was a trade dock.
 First Actual Remains of Horse Bones

 Over 350 hectares with new findings of two additional mounds,

Rakhigarhi  This was the largest Indus valley civilization site and town in the world.
(Haryana)  Shows all three phases of Harappan Culture.
 Granary, cemetery, drains, terracotta bricks.

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Pictures of some of the shreds of evidence:

 Pashupati Seal:

Source: NCERT Book

 Dancing girl, bronze figure:

Source: NCERT Book

 Great Bath:

Source: NCERT Book

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 Fire pits:

Source: harappa.com

 Burial systems:

Source: Researchgate

Livelihood
Let’s understand the living style of the Indus valley civilization people.

Food habits
 The crops taken were Wheat and Barley, Horse gram, peas, Rice (Lothal), millets, and dates.

 Fruits: Pomegranates and bananas

 Non-veg: Meat and fish

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Costumes & ornaments

 Clothes are mostly made of wool and cotton.

 Women wore short skirts.

 Men wore a long piece of cloth around themselves.

 Women had used bracelets and necklaces made up of shells, gold, and silver.

 Men were used to wearing amulets to protect themselves from wrong influences.

Source: Pinterest

Ornaments

Amusements
 Children used to play with small clay carts, dolls, rattle, marbles, etc.

 Figures of animals were made like puppets.

 Whistles were made in the form of birds.

 Old people used to enjoy gambling.

Occupations
 The weaving of clothes.

 Trading with Persian gulf and Sumerians.

 Making of beads like clay, stone, paste, shell and Ivory; and amulets.

 Metalworks.

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Trade

 Historians and Archeologists inferred that the Harappans were engaged in a flourishing trade with the
Mesopotamia and Persian Civilizations.

 The Mesopotamians called the Indus Region ‘Meluhha’

 The Mesopotamia inscriptions speak there was an existence of Triangular trade, and the involved trading
centers are, ‘Dilmun’ (probably, Bahrain on Persian Gulf), Makan (Probably the Makran Coast, Oman) and
Meluhha

 They also indicated that Mesopotamiaimported copper, carnelian, ivory, shell, Lapis lazuli, pearls and eb-
ony from Meluhha.

 Seals and small objects of Mohenjodaro were found in sites in Iraq.

 At the Lothal dock, weights, and measures have been found in various shapes and were accurate.

 Traces of trading with Afghanistan for Blue gemstone and Lapis Lazuli.

Metals Source Region

Gold Afghanistan, Iran, Kolar

Copper Khetri ( Rajasthan), Balochistan, Oman

Tin Afghanistan, Iran

Lapis Lazuli Shortugai

Jade Pamir

Bitumen Balochistan, Mesopotamia

Lead South India

silver Jwar Mines of Rajasthan, Mesopotamia

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Religion
 People believed in god.

 Inscriptions of clay figures of mother-goddess and seated figure of male god carved on a small stone seal.
Eg. Pashupati seal.

 They had few things believed to be sacred. Eg. Peepal Tree seal, Horned Bull seal, is, etc.

 Use of Fire Altars had its own significance

Peepal tree trade seal

Social stratification
The political and administrative system:
 There was a debate on whether IVC had a democratic system or a kingdom.

 There are no signs of proof of any particular system.

 Most of the archaeologists are predicting an oligarchy of senior men.

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Burial practices:
 People believed that after death a person required things with him.

 There were different burial systems for the rich and poor classes. Rich class burials are round with rich
items as compared to the poor class burial system.

 Shreds of evidence showed 3 types of burial systems:

1. Extended burial system: The body was placed in North-South directions.

2. Symbolic burial system: Body couldn’t found eg. Kaalibangan

3. Twin burial system: Two bodies in one grave. eg. Man and Dog.

 Refer to image 5 under the Evidence heading.

Class differences
 It is evident from the upraised citadel and lower part town planning that there was a class difference
between aristocrats and labourers.

 Aristocrats used to live at raised citadel while working classes had their houses in the lower part.

 Society was appeared to be Matriarchal

Art and Architecture

Architecture
Town Planning
 Roads:

 Rectangular grid pattern planning.

 Roads met at right angles.

 The big grid road was divided into small roads connected to the small lanes to the individual
houses.

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A grid pattern of roads

Buildings
 Dwelling houses, public buildings, and public baths.

 Burnt mud bricks were used for the construction.

 The Unique feature of the Bricks was its identical ration of 1:2:4

 Houses were often of two or more storeys, though varied in size but quite monotonous.

City Division
 Got divided into the upraised citadel and lower part into west and east sides respectively.

 Upraised citadel composed of It consists of granaries, administrative buildings, courtyards, and pillared
halls.

 Lower part: small one-room quarters for working-class people, Public baths. Eg. Great Bath at the
Mohenjodaro site.

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Drainage System:
 Small drains from each house were connected to larger drains running alongside the main roads.

 Drains were covered loosely to allow regular cleaning and maintenance.

 Cesspits were placed at regular intervals.

Source: Pinterest.com
Drainage system

Sculptures

Seals
 A seal is a small portable artefact mostly made of stone but also found in other materials, such as
bone/ivory, metal, and various artificial pastes. It displays engraved motifs and is generally perforated so
that it can be suspended.

 Seals were made of Steatite, a soft stone found in river beds.

 Seals made of copper, gold, faience, ivory, and terracotta were also found.

 Shapes: square, triangular, rectangular, and circular.

 Some seals have an impression of animals eg. Bull.

 Some seals have an impression of half man and half animal. Eg. Pashupati seal.

 Use: primarily for trade, identification marks, or educational purposes. Eg. Seals having mathematical
images like Swastik on it.

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Source: Weebly.com

Trade seals

Language
 The script was in the pictographic language written from right to left side and then from left to the right
side. This is called a boustrophedon type of writings.

 The writings have not been deciphered yet.

Bronze figures
 Cire perdue technique is also known as a lost wax method used to make bronze figures. In this
technique, holes are made to fill the liquid metal. After drying the wax is removed from a metal
structure.

 Dancing girl: Tribhanga posture, is one of its makings. (Refer: Image 2 in evidence heading.)

Terracotta
 Use of fire-baked clay for making sculptures.

 Use: make toys, animal figures, miniature carts, and wheels, etc.

Pottery
 Excavation sites found 2 kinds of potteries: plain pottery and painted pottery.

 Painted pottery also called Red and Black pottery in which red colour is used in the background and
black colour is used to draw designs and figures on it.

 Trees, birds, animal figures, and geometrical patterns were some of the themes.

 All are wheel-made decorative potteries.

 Use household purposes, decorative purposes, pouring liquid.

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Source: Youtube.com

Red & black Potteries

Stone figures
 The skill of craftsmanship was at its best.

 Eg. Bearded priest stone figure: draped in a shawl with trefoil patterns. The eyes are elongated and half-
closed as in meditation.

 The red sandstone figure of the male torso is another example.

Source: Infokaksha.com

Beared priest

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Fall of Harrappans
 Around 1500 B.C. fall of the Harappan civilization was predicted. It was the same period that is
considered the arrival of the Aryans.

 The various prediction theories were made as follows:

 Massive flood to the Indus river led to the drowning of cities. (The movie Mohenjodaro by
Ashutosh Govarikar used this reference at the end of the film). Another disastrous change in the
Harappan climate might have been eastward-moving monsoons or winds that bring heavy rains.
Monsoons can be both helpful and detrimental to a climate, depending on whether they support
or destroy vegetation and agriculture.

 One theory suggested that a nomadic, Indo-European tribe called the Aryans invaded and
conquered the Indus Valley Civilization.

 Some experts believe the drying of the Ghaggar Hakra river system, which began around 1900 ,
was the main cause of climate change that led to a massive drought for long years.

 Some say due to droughts there were famines.

 It is being suspected that some pandemic diseases had spread (like COVID 19 for today) which
eliminated the population.

 By 1800 , the Indus Valley climate grew cooler and drier, and a tectonic event may have diverted
or disrupted river systems, which were the lifelines of the Indus Valley Civilization. The Harappans
may have migrated toward the Ganges basin in the east, where they could have established
villages and isolated farms.

 Destruction of Forests, resulted in a heavy environmental degradation.

 But, there is no conclusive evidence yet. The extinction of the Indus valley Civilization was not
caused by a single dramatic event; it was instead a slow decline attributable to a combination of
factors.

Mains Question for Practice

1. What are the different types of arts and crafts of the Harappan civilization? Also, explain its significance.
(250 words, 15 marks)

2. To what extent has the urban planning and culture of the Indus Valley Civilization provided inputs to the
present-day urbanization? Discuss. (150 words, 10 marks)

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