Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) / Harappa /Bronze Age

Indus Valley Civilization (IVC)/ Harappa /Bronze Age in India 

• The oldest name of Harappa civilization is Indus Valley Civilization.
• According to archaeologist, Harappa was the first discovered site.
• This civilization occupied the period between 3000 BC -1500 BCE by carbon-14 dating.
• John Marshal was the first scholar to use the term Indus Civilization.
• Nothing was known of the Indus valley Civilization till 1922-23 when Archaeological Department of India carried out excavation in Indus valley civilization wherein ruins of two old cities Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa were unearthed.
• The Indus Valley Civilization was spread over Sind, Baluchistan, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, western Uttar Pradesh and Northern Maharashtra.
• People of Indus valley Civilization know the use gold, silver, copper but not the use of iron.

Town planning:-

• IVC is known for its urban look.
• Town planning was divided in two parts Citadel/ Upper part and Lower part. The IVC was divided into two parts:-

• 1. Citadel– This part occupied a smaller area. This part mostly situated in west of the city. Rulers of the city lived in citadel part. The area contains public building, Granaries and workshops.
  2. Lower part-The common citizens lived and carried their professional lives in lower part of the city.

Features of town planning:

• The streets in IVC were wide and ten meters long which was divided into rectangular and square blocks.
• Burnt bricks of good quality were used for the town. The brick was of identical ratio 1:2:4 in terms of thickness: width: length.
• The IVC had an excellent drainage system.
• The houses were often two or ore stories.
• The houses had tiled bathrooms.
• Some houses had heir own well.
• The houses had windows but no window faced the streets.
• The town planning roughly followed a grid pattern and streets ran from north and cuts at right angles.

Society:-

• The IVC was an urban society which was divided into three distinct social groups:Ruled, rich merchants and poor labourers.
• The people followed diverse professions such as priests, warrior’s peasants, traders and artisans etc.
• The IVC society appears to be matriarchal in nature.
• They generally wore garments of cotton, silk and wool.

Agriculture:-

• Agriculture was the most important source of subsistence for the IVC/ Harappa’s people.
• They grew wheat barley horse gram pea melon watermelon sesame dates millets garlic mustard henna rice and grapes.
• They stored surplus food in granaries as evident found from many places.
• They ploughed filed with the help of wooden ploughs.

Animal domestication:-

• The people of IVC/Harappa domesticated animals on a large scale like goat, buffaloes, oxen, bulls, pigs, asses, camels etc.
• The people of IVC/Harappa were not only horse centered. They were also formal with the elephant and the rhinoceros.
• The people of this age also consumed milk and curd.
• Fish eating was common and molluscs were protein rich food for those who lived in the coastal sites of Gujarat.

Industries and Craft:-

• They showed mastery skills in a variety of arts and crafts.
• They made beads and ornaments out of shell, carnelian, jasper, crystal steatite.
• They mould copper, bronze gold and terracotta in innumerable designs and shapes.

Pottery:-

• They were used diverse varieties of pottery for daily use which was well baked and fine in decoration.
• Black and Red ware pottery with designs was famous.
• The pottery shaped was like dish-on-stands, S-shaped plates dishes bowls and pots.
• Potteries were used for storing grain or water and some perforated pots were used for brewing fermented alcoholic beverages.
• List of Important Indus Valley Civilisation/ Harappa sites in India

Harappa	It is located in Montgomery, west Punjab (now in Pakistan). On  Ravi River Excavated by Daya Ram Sahni in 1921 This is first town which is excavated and studied in detail.	Important findings:- Evidence of coffin burial Granaries Important Indus valley civilisation town
Mohenjo Daro	Situated in Larkana District of Sind (now in Pakistan) On Indus River Excavated by R. D. Banerjee in 1922 and E. Makay Kashinath Dixit and Sir John Marshall in 1930. Mohenjo-Daro is the Biggest Harappa site. Its literal meaning in Sindhi is “The mound of dead”.	Important finding:- The biggest great bath Great granary Bronze dancing girl Bearded man Terracotta toys Bull seal Pashupati seal Three cylindrical seals of the Mesopotamia A piece of woven cloth
Lothal	Situated in Ahmadabad, district of Gujarat at the head of Gulf of Cambay. On Bhogava and Saraswati river confluence Excavated by S. R. Rao in 1957-1962 Still excavation is in process	Important findings:- First evidences of use of rice An artificial dock Shell ornament makers shop Fire altars Granary Dockyard Button seal Painted seals Set of elephant teeth
Kalibangan	Situated in Sriganganagar district of Rajasthan. On Ghaggar River Excavated by A. Ghosh in 1953. Excavated by B. B. Lal and B. K. Thapar in 1961.	Important finding:-  Fire altars  Baked/burnt bangle factory  Shiva Lingham  Small circular pits containing large urns and accompanied by pottery  Bones of camel  Both citadel and lower town were fortified.
Chanhu-Daro	Situated in Sindh Pakistan Near Mohenjo Daro On Indus River Excavated by n. G. Mazumdar first in 1931 and E. Makay.	Important findings:- Bead making factory Use of lipstick Black liner Comb Metal workers shop Carts with seated driver Curved bricks used only here
Rangpur	In Gujarat On Madar River Excavated by M. S. Vatsa in 1931 and S. R. Rao in 1953-1954	Important findings:- Flakes Yellow and grey color pots
Banawali	Situated in Hissar district of Haryana. On Rangoi River Excavated by R. S. Bist 1973-1974	Important findings:- Evidences of Barley Terracotta figure of plough
Alamgirpur	Situated in Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh On Hindon River Excavated by Y. D. Sharma in 1958	Important findings:- Impression of cloth on trough  Granary
Koti Diji	·        Situated in Sindh, Pakistan ·        On Sindh River ·        Excavated by Ghurey in 1853 and Fazal Ahmed in 1955	Important findings:- House made of stone  City destroyed by force
Amri	Situated in Sindh Pakistan On Sindhu River Excavated by Ghurey in 1835 and Fazal Ahmed in 1955	Important findings:- Actual remains of rhinoceros Trace of Jhangar culture Fire altars
Ropar	In Punjab On Sutlej River Excavated by Y. D. Sharma in 1955-1956	Important findings:- A dog buried with men. Granary
Surkotada	Situated in Bhuj of Gujarat Excavated by J. P. Joshi in 1964	Important findings:- Bones of horse Graveyard
Suktagendor	Situated Baluchistan in Sindh of Pakistan. On Daasht River Excavated by A. Stein and George Dales in 1927	Important findings:- Trade point between Harappa and Babylon to mature phase Ash filled pot Copper axe Earthen bangles and pottery Now known as Karachi port
Dholavira	Situated in Kutch district of Gujarat. Excavated by J. P. Joshi in 1967-1968 and Excavation carried out by R. S. Bist in 1990-1991 Latest site discovered in India.	Important findings:- Entire city was divided into 3 parts: the citadel, the middle town and the lower town. Bullock  driven by a nude human Number of reservoirs Use of rocks for construction Town planning, grid pattern, drainage system etc. A big stadium- biggest structure
Rakhigarhi	Situated in Bhirrana,  Fatehgarh (near Hissar) district of Haryana Excavated by Amrendra Nath 1997-2000 Largest site of Indus valley civilization Still excavation is on  progress	Important finding:- Terracotta wheels toys Terracotta Figures Terracotta Pottery
Banawali	It is located in Haryana	Important findings:- Best quality of Barley Ploughshare made up of Terracotta
Kunal	It is located in Haryana	Important finding:- Two crown made of silver

 

• Daimabad in Maharashtra is the most populated site of IVC.
• Mohenjo-Daro is the most urban/ modern site of IVC.
• Mohenjo- Daro was the biggest city of IVC situated in Larkana district of Sind. The site spreads in 300 acre.
• Rakhigarhi was the biggest site of IVC situated in Rakhigarhi, Hissar district of Haryana.
• A piece of woven cloth has been found at Mohenjo-Daro.
• Evidences of wheat were found at Mehrgarh
• Evidences of rice were found at
• Wooden ploughs have been discovered at Kalibangan.
• Terracotta model of plough have been found at Banawali and Bahawalpur.
• Bead making shops have been excavated at Chanhudaro and Lothal
• Stone sculpture of bearded man probably the bust of a priest discovered at Mohenjo-Daro
• The Harappa civilisation was the earliest known civilisation to produce cotton. The cotton was known as ‘Sindon’
• Spindles and needles at many sites attest to the practice of spinning and weaving among Harappa