THEME-1-BRICKS, BEADS AND BONES

(THE HARAPPAN CIVILIZATION)

(LESSON NOTES)
__________________________________________________________

❖ INTRODUCTION

➢ Indus valley civilization is also known as Harappan civilization.

➢ It started flourishing along River Indus (now in Pakistan) at around 2600 B.C.

➢ Harappan civilization was the largest Bronze age civilization in the world

➢ Harappa was the first site of this civilization discovered by archaeologists.

➢ It was an urban civilization. Its writing is not deciphered .

➢ After 1900 B.C., most of the sites were abandoned due to some reasons. By 1900 B.C.
major part of the civilization ended.

❖ PERIOD OF HARAPPAN CIVILIZATION

➢ Indus valley civilization is also known as Harappan civilization or culture. Archaeologists

use the term “culture” for a group of objects, distinctive in style, that are usually found
together within a specific geographical area and period of time.

➢ The civilization is dated between 2600 BCE and 1900 BCE. The period of the civilization
is broadly divided in to three: -

1. The Early Harappan culture (Before 2600 BCE)

➢ These cultures were associated with distinctive pottery, evidence of

agriculture, pastoralism and some crafts.
➢ The settlements were small in size and had no large buildings.
➢ Some early Harappan sites are Amari , Kotdiji, Damb Sadaat, Siswal etc.

2. The Mature Harappan culture (2600 BCE to 1900 BCE)

3. The Late Harappan culture (After 1900)

❖ SOME IMPORTANT SITES OF MATURE HARAPPAN CIVILIZATION

https://www.socialscienceandhistory12.com/
pg. 1
 Kalibangan,(Rajasthan) Chanhudaro,(Pakistan)
Rakhi Garhi(Haryana) Mohenjodaro,(Pakistan)
Banawali (Haryana) Harappa(pakistan)
Rupar,(Punjab) Sutakagen Dor,(Pakistan)
Dholavira,(Gujarat Amri,(Pakistan)
Lothal,(Gujarat) Kot Diji(Pakistan)
Rangpur,(Gujarat) Nageshwar(Pakistan)
Surkotda (Gujarat) Balakot,(Pakistan)

❖ SUBSISTENCE STRATEGIES OF THE PEOPLE

➢ Subsistence strategies refer that how these people survive. What they eat etc.

➢ Archaeologist found the evidence that they depended on hunting and gathering,
cultivation, pastoralist, and for their food.

➢ Teracotta models of oxen, plough etc. show that people relied on agriculture too.
Archaeologists found grain such as wheat, barley, lentils, chickpea and sesame at the
Harappan sites. In Gujarat, Millets have been found. Rice was found rarely.

https://www.socialscienceandhistory12.com/
pg. 2
➢ There are evidences of bones of animals which prove that people consumed meat. Bones
of cattle, fish, fowl, sheep, goat, buffalo, pig, boar, deer, and gharial are found at the sites.
Studies indicate that these animals were either domesticated or hunted by
the Harappans

➢ They also caught fish.

❖ AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGIES OF HARAPPANS

➢ Agriculture was the main occupation of the Harappans. The prevalence of agriculture is
indicated by finds of grains. It is very difficult to reconstruct actual agricultural practices
carried out by the Harappans. But archaeologist found much evidence which shows that
they also used technology in agriculture.

➢ CROPS

▪ Archaeologists found grain such as wheat, barley, lentils, chickpea and

sesame at the Harappan sites. In Gujarat, Millets have been found. Rice was
found rarely.

➢ PLOUGHING-

▪ Terracotta sculptors of the bull and their representation on the seals

indicate that bull was known to them. From this, the archaeologists assume
that the oxen were used for ploughing.

▪ Moreover, the Archaeologists have also found terracotta models of the

plough at sites in Cholistan and at Banwali (Haryana).

▪ Evidence of a ploughed field, associated with early Harappan levels have

also found at Kalibangan(Rajasthan).

➢ MULTIPLE CROPPING

▪ The field had two sets of furrows at right angles to each other, suggesting
that two different crops were grown together.

➢ IRRIGATION

▪ Most of the Harappan sites were located in semi-arid regions. So,to enhance
agricultural produce they needed facilities of irrigation.

https://www.socialscienceandhistory12.com/
pg. 3
 ▪ Traces of canals have been found at the Harappan site of Shortughai
in Afghanistan.

▪ It is also likely that water was drawn from wells was used for irrigation.

▪ Besides, water reservoirs found in Dholavira (Gujarat) may have been used
to store water for agriculture.

➢ FOOD PROCESSING

▪ Archaeologist found many many grinding equipment as well as vessels for

mixing, blending and cooking. These showed that they used the food grains
in very effective ways.

▪ These equipment were made of stone, metal and terracotta

❖ ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES OF HARAPPAN CITIES

❖ TOWN PLANNING
➢ The most spectacular part of Harappan structure is the large scale town layout. The
settlement was first planned and then implemented. Bricks used in the buildings were
uniform in size. Length and breadth of bricks were four times and twice the height
(4:2:1) respectively. Most of the cities were divided into two parts.

➢ CITADEL-
▪ The western part of the settlement which is raised but small in size was
known as citadel by the archaeologist.
▪ It was built on mud brick platforms. It was walled and separated from the
Lower Town.
▪ The citadel was probably used for special public purpose. Many special
building like The Great Bath, Store house etc.

➢ THE LOWER TOWN

▪ The eastern part of the settlement which is large in size was known as
lower town.
▪ It was also walled. Several buildings were made on the platform that
served as foundation.
▪ The Lower Town of Mohenjo-Daro provides examples of
residential buildings.

https://www.socialscienceandhistory12.com/
pg. 4
 ❖ ROAD AND STREETS

➢ The roads and streets in the lower town were laid out in a grid pattern, intersecting at
right angles.

➢ The streets and drains were first laid out and then houses were built on the same pattern.
❖ HOUSES

➢ Most of these were centred on a courtyard, with rooms on all sides.

➢ Different activities like cooking, weaving etc. were carried out in the courtyard
particularly during the hot and dry seasons.

➢ There were no windows along the walls on the ground floor. So privacy could
be maintained.

➢ The main entrance did not provide view of courtyard and interior. Every house had
bathroom paved with bricks which was connected through the wall to the street drains.

➢ In some houses remains of staircases to reach second storey or roof have been found.

➢ In smaller settlements such as Lothal, the houses were built of mud bricks and drains
were made of burnt bricks.

https://www.socialscienceandhistory12.com/
pg. 5
➢ Many houses had wells which were reachable from outside for the use of outsiders. It is
estimated that the total number of wells in Mohenjodaro was about 700.
❖ DRAINAGE SYSTEM OF THE HARAPPANS

➢ One of the striking features of Harappan cities was the well planned drainage system.

➢ Every house was connected to the street drains.

➢ The drains were made of mortar, lime and gypsum.

➢ They were covered with big bricks which could be lifted easily to clean the drains. For
sewage from the houses, pits were provided at either side of the street.

➢ Very long drainage channels were provided at intervals with sumps for cleaning.

➢ Little heaps of materials mostly sand have frequently been found alongside the drains.
This shows that the drains were cleaned at regular intervals.

❖ THE GREAT BATH-OF MOHENJODARO

➢ On citadel, some special buildings were built like 'The great bath of Mohenjo-Daro'. Such
buildings were used on some religious occasions or on public gatherings.

➢ The Great Bath was a large rectangular tank surrounded by corridors on all four sides.

https://www.socialscienceandhistory12.com/
pg. 6
➢ There were two flights of steps on north and south leading into the tank.

➢ The tank was made watertight by laying bricks on the edge and using mortar
and gypsum.

➢ Rooms were made on three sides of the tank, with one room having a large well.

➢ The water from the tank flowed into a huge drain.

➢ Across the lane there was a smaller building with eight bathrooms, four at each side of a
corridor, with drains from each bathroom connecting to a drain that ran along
the corridor.

❖ FIND OUT SOCIAL DIFFERENCES

➢ By Studying Burials sites

https://www.socialscienceandhistory12.com/
pg. 7
 ▪ Strategies to analyze social and economic differences amongst people living
within a particular culture include study of burials.

▪ At burials in Harappan sites the dead were generally laid in pits.

▪ Some of the pits were lined by bricks.

▪ Some of the burials contained ornaments, pottery etc, may be a belief that
these things can be used after life.

▪ In some instances the dead were buried with copper mirrors.

▪ Jwelleries were found in both men and women burials which mean that
both men and women used ornaments.

▪ But in general, Harappans never believed in burying precious things with

the dead.

▪ This shows that there were social differences. Some persons were poor and
some were rich.

➢ By studying Artefacts
▪ Studying artefacts is another strategy to find out social differences.
Artefacts are divided into utilitarian and luxuries.

▪ Utilitarian artefacts include objects made of stone or clay. These include

querns, pottery, needles, flesh-rubbers etc. and are usually found
distributed throughout settlements.

▪ Luxury artefacts are rare objects made of valuable materials are generally
concentrated in large settlements like Mohenjodaro and Harappa. For
Example, little pots of faience were used as perfume bottles.

❖ FINDING OUT ABOUT CRAFT PRODUCTION

https://www.socialscienceandhistory12.com/
pg. 8
 ❖ RAW MATERIALS

➢ Raw materials required for craft production. The variety of materials used to make beads
is remarkable:

➢ Stones

▪ Carnelian (of a beautiful red colour) jasper, crystal, quartz and steatite

➢ Metals

▪ like copper, bronze and gold; and shell, faience and terracotta or burnt clay.

❖ METHODS OF MAKING CRAFT BY THE HARAPPANS

➢ Harappan craftpersons used different methods to make craft works. Beads were made of
two or more stones by cementing together, while some of stone with gold caps.

➢ They were made in different shapes such as cylindrical, spherical, barrel-shaped,

and segmented.

➢ Some were decorated by painting and some had designs etched on them.They made
bangles, ladles out of shells.

➢ Special tools were used for craft work. Specialized drills have been found at Chanhudaro,
Lothal and more recently at Dholavira.

❖ IDENTIFYING CENTRES OF PRODUCTION

➢ Nageshwar and Balakot were specialized centres for making

shell objects. Chanhudaro was the centre of crafts production. It was specialist in bead-
making, shell-cutting, metal-working, seal-making and weight-making.

➢ The centers of production were identified by the archaeologists by these sources as

finding from particular places-

▪ Evidences of tools,

▪ Raw materials,

▪ Unfinished objects,

https://www.socialscienceandhistory12.com/
pg. 9
 ▪ Rejects OR waste materials

❖ PROCURING MATERIALS FOR CRAFT PRODUCTION

➢ The Harappans procured materials for craft production in various ways.

➢ Established settlements
▪ Harappan people established settlements in Nageshwar, Balakot
and Shortughai.
▪ Shortughai, in far-off Afghanistan, was the best source of lapis-lazuli.
▪ Lothal which was near sources of carnelian, Steatite from south Rajasthan
and north Gujarat and metal from Rajasthan.

➢ Sent expeditions
▪ They might have sent expeditions to areas such as the khetri region of
Rajasthan (for copper) and south India (forgold).
▪ Nageshwar and Balakot were areas for shell.
▪ Expeditions to the khetri region and south India established
communication with local communities.
➢ Contact with distant lands (Trade relation )

▪ Archaeological finds suggest that the Harappans maintained long

distance trade. The main source to know about long distance contacts
were seals, weights, dice and beads.

▪ Harappans probably had trade contacts with the Oman peninsula. Chemical
analyses have shown that both the Omani copper and Harappan artefacts
have traces of nickel, which suggests a common origin.

▪ There are similarities between certain other types of objects found at

this site.A Harappan jar coated with a thick layer of black clay has been
found in Oman.

▪ Mesopotamian texts refer to contact with regions named

• -Dilmun (probably the island of Bahrain),

• -Magan for Oman

• Meluhaha, possibly the Harappan.

https://www.socialscienceandhistory12.com/
pg. 10
 ❖ SEALS AND SEALINGS

➢ Seals and Sealings were used to facilitate long distance communication.

➢ When a bag of goods was sent from one place to another, its mouth was tied with a rope.

➢ On the knot was affixed some wet clay on which one or more seals were pressed, leaving
an impression.

➢ If the bag reached with its sealing intact, it meant that it had not been tampered with.

➢ The sealing established the identity of the sender.

➢ Harappan seals usually have a line of writing.

➢ Seal had the name and title of the owner.

➢ The seal had a motif (generally an animal- Unicorn)) which conveyed a meaning to those
who could not read.

➢ Seals were basically used to convey the identity of the sender and to facilitate long
distance communication.

❖ CHARACTERISTICS OF SCRIPT

➢ Harappan scripts found on many objects as seals, copper tools, rims of jars, terracotta
tablets, bone rods etc.

➢ Most of Harappan inscriptions which find out are short. The longest containing about 26
signs.

➢ The script was not alphabetical and written right to left.

➢ Many signs were used and they are around 375-400 in numbers.

➢ The script still remains undeciphered to date.

❖ WEIGHTS

➢ Exchangers were regulated by a precise system of weights usually made of a stone called
chert (a kind of stone, generally cubical with no markings).

https://www.socialscienceandhistory12.com/
pg. 11
➢ Lower denominations of weights were binary (1, 2,4,8,16,32 etc.), while the higher
denominations followed the decimal system.

➢ Metal scale pans have also been found.

❖ ANCIENT AUTHORITY

➢ Different arguments put forwarded by the archaeologists over the central authority of
Harappa

➢ There are three major views about the existence of a central authority in the
Harappan society.

▪ Some archaeologists have the opinion that there were no rulers in the
Harappan society and that everybody enjoyed equal status.

▪ Others have the opinion that there was no single ruler but several rulers.
Monenjodaro had a separate ruler, Harappa had separate and so on.

▪ Some others suggest that there was a single state. This theory was based on
the similarity of artefacts, planned settlements etc. One statue is find out
by the archaeologist referred as “Priest King” according to the
Mesopotamia rulers.

➢ The last opinion considers being more plausible as it is doubtful that such complex
decisions were made and implemented collectively by entire communities.

❖ THE END OF THE CIVILIZATION

❖ CHANGES OCCURRED

➢ The archaeologist found some changes around 1900 BCE which shows their decline as

➢ The Evidences that reflected the disappearance of Harappan civilization by 1800 BCE.

➢ The expansion of population and its migration took place towards Gujarat, Haryana,
Western U.P etc.

https://www.socialscienceandhistory12.com/
pg. 12
➢ After 1900B.C. sites which existed marked the transformation of material
culture i.e. disappearance of distinctive artefacts of civilization like weights, seals, distant
trade, etc. Writing, long-distance trade, and craft specialization also disappeared.

➢ House construction techniques deteriorated and large public structures were no

longer produced.

➢ This indicates a rural way of life named late Harappa

❖ REASONS FOR THE DECLINE OF HARAPPAN CIVILIZATION

➢ The reasons responsible for the end of the civilization is still unknown. But probable
reasons are;

➢ Climatic Change

➢ Deforestation

➢ Excessive floods

➢ Over use of the landscape

➢ The shifting and or drying up of rivers

➢ Invasion most probably by the Aryans

❖ DISCOVERING THE HARAPPAN CIVILZATION -CUNNINGHAM AND HIS

CONFUSIONS

➢ Cunningham was the first Director General of ASI (Archaeological Survey of India).

➢ He was known as the father of Indian archaeology.

➢ He began archaeological excavations in the mid 19th century.

➢ His main interest was in the archaeology of early history from 6th century BCE-
4th century CE, and later periods.

➢ He used the accounts left by Chinese pilgrims who had visited the subcontinent between
the 4th and 7thcenturies CE.

➢ He also collected, documented and translated inscriptions found during his surveys.

https://www.socialscienceandhistory12.com/
pg. 13
➢ Site like Harappa did not fit well in his area of investigation.

➢ Although Harappan artefacts were found during the 19th century and some of these
reached Cunningham.

➢ But he did not realize how old these were as they were not part of the itinerary of Chinese
pilgrims and was not known as an Early Historic city.

➢ An English man gave a Harappan seal to Cunningham.

➢ But he was unable to place it in the time frame with which he was familiar. He thought
that Indian history began with the first cities in the Ganga valley.

➢ So, it is assumed that he missed the significance of Harappa

❖ DIFFERENT METHODS ADOPTED BY MARSHALL AND WHEELER IN
RECONSTRUCTING HARAPPAN CIVILIZATION

➢ Daya Ram Sahni and Rakhal Das Banerji found similar seals at Harappa and Mohenjodaro
respectively

➢ Based on these finds, in 1924, John Marshall, Director General of the ASI, announced the
discovery of a new civilization in the Indus valley to the world.

➢ Marshall tended to excavate along regular horizontal units, measured uniformly

throughout the mound, ignoring stratigraphy of the site.

➢ This meant that all the artefacts recovered from the same unit were grouped together,
even if they were found at different stratigraphic layers.

➢ As a result, valuable information about the context of these finds was irretrievably lost.
R.E.M Wheeler rectified this problem. He recognized that it was necessary to follow the
stratigraphy of the mound rather than dig mechanically along uniform horizontallines.

❖ PROBLEMS FACED BY ARCHAEOLOGISTS IN THE INTERPRETATION OF

RELIGIOUS PRACTICES OF HARAPPA

➢ Harappan script is not helpful in understanding the Harappan civilization. The

script remains undeciphered till date.

➢ Material remains help the archaeologists to reconstruct Harappan life.

https://www.socialscienceandhistory12.com/
pg. 14
➢ Organic material such as cloth, leather, wood and reeds generally decomposed while stone,
burnt clay, metal etc.survive.Materials such as pottery, tools, ornaments, and house hold
objects are available.

➢ Recovering artefacts is just the beginning of the archaeological enterprise. Archaeologists

then classify their finds.

➢ The second, and most complicated, is in terms of function: archaeologists have to decide
whether, for instance, an artifact is a tool or an ornament, or both, or something meant for
ritual use.

➢ An understanding of the function of an artefact is often shaped by its resemblance with

present- day things-beads, querns, stone blades and pots are obvious examples.

➢ Archaeologists also try to identify the function of an artefact by investigating the context
in which it was found. Whether it was found in a house, in drain, grave or in kiln.

➢ The problems of archaeological interpretation are perhaps most evident in attempts to

reconstruct religious practices.

➢ Attempts have also been made to reconstruct religious beliefs and practices by examining
seals, some of which seem to depict ritual scenes. Others, with plant motifs, are thought to
indicate nature worship.

➢ Many reconstructions of Harappan religion are made on the assumption that later
traditions provide parallels with earlier ones. This is because archaeologists often move
from the known to the unknown, that is, from the present to the past.
Archaeologist’s attempts to reconstruct the religious practices of Harappan
people

Ø The discovery of pots, querns, beads etc in the Harappan sites and their graves
provide enormous information

Ø Traces of cotton and dresses depicted on seals and sculptures, give us an idea
about the dressing style of the Harappan people

Ø The terracotta figurines of women indicate the worship of mother goddess.

Ø Plant motifs seem to suggest the practice of nature worship.

Ø The conical stones indicate linga worship

https://www.socialscienceandhistory12.com/
pg. 15
 Ø In Some seals a figure shown seated cross legged in a ‘yogic’ posture, sometimes
surrounded by animals has been regarded as a depiction of proto-Siva that is an
early form of one of the major deities of Hinduism.

Ø Some animals such as the unicorn depicted on seals seem to be mythical,

composite creatures.

The two important structures that have been found by archaeologists are: The fire
altars found at Kalibangan and Lothal and The Great Bath at Monhenjodaro,
something meant for ritual use.

Major Developments in Harappan Archaeology

1875-Report of Alexander Cunningham on Harappan seal

1924-John Marshall announced the discovery of Harappan civilization
1925-Excavation began at Mohenjodaro
1944-R E M Wheeler became the Director General of ASI
1946- R E M Wheeler excavates at Harappa
1955-S.R.Rao begins excavation at Lothal
1960-B.B Lal&B.K Thaper begins excavations at Kalibangan
1974-M.R.Mughal begins explorations in Bahawalpur
1990-R.S Bisht begins excavations at Dholavira.

https://www.socialscienceandhistory12.com/
pg. 16