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CHAPTER- 2
THE HARAPPANCIVILIZATION
Salient Features
EarlyHarappan - Amri - growthof large
villagesandtowns
1.UrbanCivilisation
MatureHarappan - Kalibangan- riseof
2.BronzeAgeCivilisation(Flourishedduring
great cities
Circa2500-2000B.C.)
LateHarappan - Lothal matureaswell as
3.Thelargest Civilisationingeographical area
declingphase.
of theancient world.
Townplanning 4.Town-planningandwell developeddrainage
system.
FactsonTownPlanning
5.Gridiron layout andfortification.
1. Featuresof Town Planning
Origin
A great uniformityin town planning, the
fundamental lay-out of prominent urban
1.Origin liesin variousindigenousPre-Harappan
settlementsexhibitsapparent similarities.
cultures.
Basedon GridPattern: streetsandlanes 2.IndusCivilisation wasculminationof along
cuttingacrossoneanother at right angles seriesof cultural evolution.
dividingthecityintoanumber of
3.Emergedout of thefarmingcommunitiesof
rectangular blocks. Main streetsranfrom
SindandBaluchistan, HaryanaOujarat and
northtosouthandwereaswideas30feet.
Rajasthan.
Streetsandlanseswerenot paved.
4.Continuouscultural evolution from6000BC
2.Entirecitycomplexwasbifurcatedintotwo
onwardsin NorthWest Indiawhichfinally
distinct parts: theCITADEL afortifiedarea
culminatedin theriseof IndusCivilisation.
whichhousedimportant civicandreligious
Phasesof Development
publicbuildingsincludinggranariesand
1.Archaeological excavation &researchhave residencesof therulingclassandtheLOWER
revealedphasesof cultural development TOWN, somewhat bigger inareaandinvariably
burstingupin theemergenceof afull-fledged locatedeast totheformer, meant. for
civilization at Kalibangan, Banavali and commoners. Evidenceof fortification of the
Rakhigarhi. lower townsaswell fromafewurban centres
likeSurkotadaandKalibanganandevidence
2.BeganinBaluchistan&Sindarethen extended
of division of thecityintothreepartsinstead
intotheplains.
of twofromDhaulvira.
3.ThesephasesarePre-Harappan, Early
3.Useof standardizedburnt bricksonmassive
Harappan, MatureHarappan andLateHarappan
scaleinalmost all typesof constructions(an
4.Extent of Harrappa:- FrominNorthManda(J &
extraordinaryfeatureof thecontemporary
K) to1600k.mDaimabad(Maharastra.) inEast
civilizations), circular stoneswereusedat
Alamgirpur (U.P.) to1100K.mSutkangedor
Dholavira.
(Bluchistan). Total Areawas12,99,600Sq. k.m.
4.Elaborateandplannedundergrounddrainage
5.Thesephasesof cultural evolution are
system. Houseswereconnectedtothemain
representedbyMehargarh, Amri, Kalibangan
drainequippedwithmanholes. Mostlymadeup
andLothal respectively.
of brickswithmudmortar. Useof gypsumand
Different PhasesandTransformation limetomakeit watertight. Cesspitswere
thereinsidethehousestodeposit solidwaste.
Pre-Harappan - Mehargarh- nomadic
Bricksculvertsmeant for carryingrainand
herdsrnentosettledagriculture
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stormwater havealsobeenfound. Brickswere 4.Potteryhadplain bases. Fewringbaseshave
madeinratioof I 24. Sizeof Bricks- 7C.min been found.
Thick,
5.Mainlyfamouscolour of pot waspink. General
- 14C.mWidth design wasontheredbasehorizontallyblack
lineon pots.
- 28C.mLong.
Seals
5.Featuresof Houses
1.Sealsarethegreatest artisticcreation of the
Houseswereplain anddidnot exhibit, any
Harappan peoplecutting&polishing
refinement andbeauty. Sofar asthe
craftmanshipisexcellent.
decorativevalueof thehouseswas
concerned, theylackedit. In general they 2.Noof sealsdiscoveredisapprox. 2000
gaveplainandun-decorativelook.
3.Madeof steatite(Soft stone), Sometimesof
Copper, Shell, Agate, Ivory, Faience, Terracotta. Anaveragehousecomprisedacourtyard
andfour tosixrooms, abedrooms, a
4.Size4inchto2Y2inch.
kitchen, andawell presenceof staircase
5.ShapeSquare, Rectangular, Button, Cubical,
givesindication of thesecondstorey.
Cylinder, Round
Houseshadside-entrancesandwindows
6.Twomain types:-
wereconspicuouslyabsent. Except Lothal,
whereenterancewereon mainroadand
Squarecarvedanimal &inscription,
windowswerefound.
small bossat theback.
Housesvariedfromasingle-roomed Rectangularinscription only, holdonthe
tenementstohouseswithanumber of back totakeacord.
roomsandhavingevenasecondstorey.
7.Colour Whiteappearance. Famouscolour of
Floorsweregenerallyof beatenearthcoated
seal wasgreen.
withcowdung. Fire-placeswerecommon in
8.Displayssymbols- Circles, Crosses, Dots,
rooms. Wallswerethick andsquareholes
Swastiks, Leavesof thePipal tree.
in themsuggest of useof wooden beams.
9.Most frequentlydepictedanimal - Unicorn
Everyhousewasseparatedbyanother bya
narrowspaceof no-mansland. Staircases
10.Other animals: Elephant, Tiger, Rhino,
wereusuallywooden but somemadeupof Antelope, Crocodile.
burnt brickshavebeen foundtoo. Roofs
11.NobirdweredepictedonHarappan seal.
wereflat. Doorswereset in wooden frames
12.Purpose: Markedownershipof property. Used
andtheaveragewidthof adoor wasone
in applyingtobalesof merchandise. (Discovery
metre. Squareandrectangular pillarsof
of suchsealsbesidethedockyardof Lothal).
burnt brickswereusedin larger rooms,
13.Pashupati Seal hasbeen foundfrom roundpillarswereabsent. Kitchen was
Mohanjodaro. It depictsSivaseatedonastool small in size. A roundoven meant for
flankedbyanelephant, atiger, a. rhinocerous,
bakingchappatishasbeenfound.
abuffaloandtwoantelopes/ goats. Marshall
Art andCraft
identifiedit withProtoSiva.
Pottery
14. Persian Gulf Seals havebeen discoveredfrom
1.MainlytwotypesPlain potteryandRedand
Lothal.
Black Potterywithdecoration, themajority
TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
beingtheformer.
Lost-Waxtechnique, usedfor making
2.Widespreaduseof potterswheel madeupof
bronzeimages.
wood, useof firingtechnique, useof kiln.
EnglishBondmethod-Bondingsystemfor
3.Varietyof PleasingDesign Horizontal strips,
bricks.
Check, Chess-BoardPattern, Interesecting
FlemishBondmethod-usedfor making
Circles(Pattern exclusivelyfound), Leaves&
staircases.
Petals, Natural Motif Birds, Fish, Animals,
Plants, Human FigureRare(A Man&A Child KilnBricksEvidenceof Kiln hasbeen
foundfromHarappa), Triangles. foundat Rakhigarhi
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Water HarvestingSystemDholaveera 23. Seal depictingMother Mohanjodaro
Goddesswithaplant
For small measurement binarysystemand
growingfromher womb
for bigmeasurement decimal systemwere
usedinHarappa. 24. Paintingon ajar resembling
thestoryof the
FINDINGSANDEVIDENCES
cunningfoxof panchtantraLothal
1.CemeteriesH &R 37 Harappa
25. Harappan gamesimilar to
2.Furrowmark Kalibangan
chessLothal
3.CitydividedintothreepartsDholvira
26. Copper rhinocerousDaimabad
4.Fragment of Woven clothMohanjodaro 27. Copper chariot Daimabad
28. Copper Elephant Daimabad 5.Citywithout acitadal Chanhudaro
29. Devastation byfloodDhanhudaro,
6.Small pot (Probablyanink-pot)Chanhudaro
Mohanjodaro
7.Citieswherelower townsKalibangan&
&Lothal
werefortified Surkotada
30. CollegiatebuildingMohanjodaro
8.CitieshavingbothprotoKalibangan&
31. AssemblyHall Mohanjodaro
Harappan andmatureBanwali
Harappan evidencesand 32. GranariesMohanjodaro
Harappan Cultural Phases &Harappa
33. Steatitefigureof abearded
9.DockyardLothal
man Mohanjodaro
10. Evidenceof RiceRangpur &
34. Bronzedancinggirl (11.5cm) Mohanjodaro
Lothal
35. Cylindrical sealsof Gigamesh
11. Evidenceof Coffin Burial Lothal
andEkinduMesopotamian
12. Remainsof Bonesof HorseSurkotada
type, threeinnumber Mohanjodaro
13. FirealtarsKalibangan, 36. WarehouseLothal
Banarvali,
37. Granaryoutsidecitadel Harappa
Lothal and
38. WorkingplatcformHarappa
Rakhigarhi
39. Sandstonemaledancer Harappa
14. TerracottaModelsof ships/
40.Terracottafigurineof ahorseMohanjodaro boatsLothal
41.Absenceof mother goddess
15. TemplelikestructureMohanjodaro
figurinesRangpur
16. Humanskeletonshuddled
42. Bead-makingfactoryChanhudaro&
together indicating
Lothal
violent death/massacreMohanjodaro
43. Absenceof sealsAlamgirpur
17. Houseshavingfront
44. Shell-ornament makersChanhudaro,
entrancesLothal
factoryBalakot and
18. Bronzerod/stick with
Lothal
measuremarksLothal
45. Metal workersfactoryChanhudaro&
19. SingleroomedbarracksHarappa
Lothal
46. Persian Gulf sealsLothal 20. Bronzemodelsofikkas Harappa,
andbullock-carts Chandudaro
47. Cityhavingamiddletown
apart fromthecitadel
21. Pasupati Mahadevseal
andthelower townDholvira
(AssaidbyJohn Marshall) Mohanjodaro
48.A merchant houseLothal
22. Medical Beliefs, surgeryof Lothal &
skull Kalibangan 49. Impressionsof clothon sealingLothal

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50. Sixtypesof potteryKalibangan 4.TreeworshipPipal.
5.FertilityCult Phallusworship.
51. Evidenceof doubleburial Lothal
6.Natureworship.
52. Evidenceof pot-burial Surkotada
7.AmuletsandTalisman (Mohanjodaro)
53. FurnaceRakhigarhi
8.SacredbathWater Cosmology
54.Kiln Rakhigarhi
BURIALS
55. Boustrophedon Kalibangan
1.Bodieswereextendedinnorth-Southdirection.
56. Camel bonesKalibangan
2.Cemeteriesof Harappa, Mohanjodaro, Lothal,
Kalibangan, Rakhigarhi andRopar located 57. HorseskeletonSurkotada
aroundtheoutskirts.
58.HorseteethRanaGhundai
3.Threeformsof burialscompleteburial,
59.RegaliaKunal
Fractional burial andpost-cremation burial.
60.Stonecut water reservoir Dholavira
4.General practicewasbodylyingon itsback and
headtothenorth.
IndusCivilisatlon-General Aspects
5.Coffinburial fromHarappa.
CUSTOMSANDAMUSEMENTS
6.Pot burial fromSurkotada(Sacrophagus
A goodnumber of toysClayCart, Rattles,
tradition).
Bullswithmobileheads, Monkeywith
movablearms, Dices, Chessboard. 7.Doubleburial fromLothal.
Hunting, Fishing, Cock-Fighting. 8.Pit burial fromKaIibangan.
COSMETICS 9.CemetetyR-37(Harappa).
10.Cemetery(Post Harappan) Tweezers, Ear-scoop, Piercer, Antimonyrods, Ivory
comb, Mirrors, Hair pins, Roundbuttons, Minor
WEIGHTS&MEASURE
razors, Kohl potsandsticks
1.Standardweightsandmeasures, uniformity
DRESSANDORNAMENTS
andaccuracyof denominations.
1.Femaleswerescantilydressed, theyworea
2.Weightsweremadeof avarietyof material
short skirt especiallyfigurinesof mother
state, jasper, chert, alabaster, limestoneand
Goddess.
quartzile, but main1polishedchert.
2.Themaleworearobe, sometimesembroidered.
3.For larger weightsdecimal systemwasused
andfor smaller onesbinarysystemwas
3.Cotton wasused, noevidenceof Linen andSilk.
followed.
4.Noevidenceof footwear.
4.Theunit weight hadthecalculatedvalueof
5.Special careof hair, referenceof pony-tail, bun
0.8750gms, thelargest weightswas10970
andbraidedhair.
gms.
6.Curleyhair (clayfigurefromMohanjodaro).
5.A fewspecimensof scalesusedwiththe
weightsappear tobeaveryordinarypatterns
7.Beards(not verylong), shaven upper lipsin the
comprisingabronzebar withsuspendedcopper
figureof Yogi.
pens.
8.Necklaces, Beads, Girdle, Bracelet, Fillets,
6.BrokenIvorywereusedasascalein Finger rings, Bangles, NoseOrnaments,
Chanhudaro. Anklets.
7.BronzescalewasusedinLothal.
RELIGION
WEAPONS
1.Predominanceof Mother Goddess, denotes
peoplesfaithinfertilitycult.
1.Mainlyoffensiveweaponswerefoundin
Harrappa.
2.MaledeityPasupati Shiva.
2.Spears, Axes, Arrow-heads.
3.Animal worship(200l atry)Unicorn bull and
humpedbull. 3.NodefensiveweaponswerefoundinHarrappa.

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CROPS Cylindrical sealsof Mesopotamian type
havebeen foundin Indusvalley
1.Main crops: Wheat &Barley.
(Mohanjodaro).
2.OthersPeas, Rai, Linseed, Mustard, Cotton,
Persian Gulf Seals of intermediatetrading
Dates.
stationshavebeen discoveredfromIndus
3.Noevidenceof sugarcane.
region(Lothal).
4.Ricewasproducedregion (Ricehusk hasbeen
DiscoveryofReservedslipware of
foundfromLothal &Rangpur).
MesopotamiantypefromHarappa&Lothal.
ANIMALS&BIRDS
Internal Trade
Elephants, Cats, Dogs, Camels, Asses, Buffalo,
WithSaurashtra, Maharastra, SouthIndia,
Dear, Rhino, Goat, Unicorn, Pigs, Tortoise, Fowls,
Rajasthan, portsof westernUP.
Ox; Fish, Stag, Antelope, Patridge.
Ports
METALS
Port wasfoundin Lothal. Thisisthefirst man-
Copper, Silver, Gold, Jade, LapisLazulli, Lead. Tin,
madeport in theworld.
Ingot (Lead+Silver), Electrum(Silver &Gold)
External Trade
TOOLS
WithMesopotamia(Modern Iraq), PersianGulf
Needles, Razors, Sickles, Fish-hooks, Saws, regionandprobablyEgypt.
Chappers, Spades, Knoves, Chisels, Spoons
Itemof Imports
PROFESSIONS
Gold, Silver, Copper, Tin, LapisLazuli,-Amethyst,
Agate, Jade, Shells.
Potters, Copper andBronzeworkers, Stoneworkers,
Builders, Brick-makers, Priests, Faienceworkers,
Itemsof Exports
Farmers, Traders.
Agricultural productsWheat, Barley, Peas,
RARITIES
Oil Seeds
Rice, Horse, RoundCylindrical seals, Plough,
FinishedProductsCotton goods, Pottery1
Whetstones.
Beads, Shells, TerrocottaProducts, Ivory
Products.
ABSENCE
MainImportsAndAreas
Iron, Winows, Tp1e, Fork, Hair dyes, Round
columns, Silk fabrics, Swords, Sheilds, Metalic
AgateSaurashtra
Money, Water closetsBrick-Lamps, Footwares,
Amethyst Maharashtra
Linen, Wool, Golden finger rings, Indigenous,
Gradual decline.
CarneliansSaurashtra, West India
LANGUAGE &SCRIPT
ChalcedoniesSaurashtra, West India
Yet not deciphered, pictographicor ideographic
Copper Rajasthan (Khetri), South
approximately450signshavebeen listed, written
India, Arabia, Baluchistan
fromright fromleft andleft toin alternatelines
styleknown asBoustrophedan, inscriptionsare GoldNorthKarnataka,
short. Afganistan, Persia
TRADE JadeCentral Asia
Evidences
LapisLazuli Afghanistan
Sumerian text makeamention of Meluha
LeadEast India/SouthIndia
whichisidentifiedwithIndusCivilization
ShellsSaurashtra, Deccan andtwointermediatetradingstations
Dilmun (Bahrain) andMakan(Makaran
Silver Afghanistanof Iran
Coast).
Tin Afghanistan, Jharkhand
Appearanceof Indussealsin the
(Hazaribagh)
Mesopotamiancitiesof Ur, Kish,Susa, Tell
TurquoisePersia
Asmar, Lagash.

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Important Sites&Archaeologist
Bhadar Rangpur
SitesYear Archaeologist
BhogavaandSabarmati Lothal
Harappa1921DayaRamSahni
ChenabManda
Mohanjodaro1922R. D. Banerjee
Ghaggar (Left bank) Kalibangan
Aniri 1929M. G. Majumdar
HindanAlamgirpur
Chanhu-Daro1931M. G. Majumdar
IndusChanhudaro
Suktagendor 1927Aurel Stein
IndusGumala
Kot Diji 1935Ghurey
Indus(Left bank) Kot Diji
Ropar 1953Y.D. Sharma
Indus(Right bank) Mohenjodaro
Banawali 1973R.S. Bist
PravaraDaimabad
Kalibangan1953A. Ghosh
Rangoi (Saraswati) Banwali
Lothal 1957S.R. Rao
Ravi (Left bank) Harappa
Alamgirpur 1958
Sutlaj KotlaNihangKhan
Rangpur 1931M.S. Vats
Other RelatedFacts
Surkodata1964Jagatpati Joshi
1.Mandu(J &K) Dalimbad(Maharashtra)
Sutkagendor (PAK) andAlamgirpur (western
DholviraDr. J.P. Joshi and
U.P.) arethenorthernmost, southernmost,
R.S. Bist
westernmost andeastemmost points
Area-WiseDistributionof Settlements
respectively.
1.Sind-Mohenjodaro, Amri, Kot Diji, Pandiwahi,
2.Thefour Harappan sitesindescendingorder
Tarkai Quila, OthmaujoButha, Sukkur,
(thefirst beingjhelargest) are:
Allahdino, Chanhudaro, Rohri, Lohumjodarn,
Mohenjodaroin Sind(Pak)
All Murad, Jhukar.
Ganeriwalain Bahwalpur (Pak)
2.Baluchistan-Mehargarh, DambSadaat, Killi
Ghul Mohmmed, RanaGhundai, SiahDamb, Harappain West Punjab(Pak)
Moghul Ghundai, Anjira, Na!, Kulli, Leval, Dabar
Dholvirain Gujarat (India).
KOt, Balakot.
2.Thelargest Harappan settlement inIndiais
3.Afghanistan-Mundigak, ShortuGhai
Rakhigarhi inHaryana.
4.West Punjab-E-Iarappa, Jalilpur, Ganeriwala,
3.Mepotamian literaturestoppedmentioning
Jhang, Saidhanwala, Derawar.
Meluhabytheendof 1990BC Indicates
5.Gujarat-Dholvira, Lothal, Surkotada,
closureof tradelinks.
Bhagatrav, Rangpur, Rojadi, Desalpur.
4.Crossedfurrows, widelyspacedin onedirection
6.Rajasthan-Ka!ibangan, Siswal, Bara,
andcloselyspacedinother, gramor seasmum
Bhagwanpura, Hulas.
sownat theformer andmustardat thelater
7.Uttar Pradesh-Alamgirpur, Manpur, Bargaon, havebeen foundat Kalibangan.
HulasandMandi
5.Thegreat bath ofMohenjodaromeasuresl2x
8.Haryana-Banwali, Rakhigarhi andKunal. 7x3metres.
9.Punjab-Ropar, Sarai Khola, KotlaNihangKhan.
6.Harappan wheelsweresolidwithout spokes.
Settlementsandtheir RiverineLocations
7.Harappan Weight &Measuressystemswere
asfollows:
Bhadar Desalpur
Of lower denomination followedBinary
Bhadar Rojdi
system1, 2, 4, 8, 64. . .160

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Of higher denomination followed
Decimal system16, 320, 640, 1600, 3200
8.Thelargest number of settlementsarein
Ghaggar Hakar valleys.
9.Principal HarappanCropsandtheareasof their
distribution areasfollows:
BarleyRajasthan
Wheat &BarleySind&Punjab
Rice&Millet Gujarat
10Sinageonwall Dholavira
11.Doublefortification Kuntasi
12.Thirteen roomedhousefromtheoverlapperiod-
Bhagvanpura
13.Doublespiral headedcopper pin-Manda