Indus Valley Civilization (2900 – 1700 BC)

by Devender

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The Indus Valley Civilization is also known as the Bronze Age Civilization. It flourished on the basin of the Indus River and Ghaggar-Hakra River.

Indus Valley Civilization

This civilization particularly flourished at the bends of rivers that provided water. It provided an easy means of transportation and also protection by way of natural barriers of the river. It was one of the three early civilizations of the world along with Egypt and Mesopotamia.

Sights of Indus Valley civilization:

1 Early or Pre Harappan:

Kalibangan (Rajasthan, Ghaggar)
Banawali (Hissar, Ghaggar)
Rakhigarhi (Hissar, Ghaggar)
Dholavira (Kutch)

2 Mature or Harappan:

Harappa (Pakistan, Ravi)
Mohenjodaro (Pakistan, Indus)
Chanhudaro (Pakistan, Indus)
Sutkagendor (Pakistan)
Sukotada (Gujrat)
Lothal (Gujrat, Bhogava)
Kalibangan
Banawali
Rakhigarhi
Dholavira

3 Late or Post Harappan:

Rakhigarhi
Dholavira
Bhagwanpura
Manda (Jammu)
Chandigarh, Shangol (Punjab)
Daulatpur, Mitthal (Haryana)
AlamgirpurHulas (West UP)

Seals - Indus Valley Civilization

These seals are engraved in the pictographic script and the writing on them is from right to left that is yet to be deciphered. Soft River Stone, Steatite, Gold, and Ivory were used to make the seals for mainly trade and commerce.

Used as an amulet - to ward off the evil
Use as an educational tool - the presence of pie sign
Prominent Seals - Pashupati, humped bull, elephant and rhinoceros
Indus seals found in Mesopotamia - Sign of possible trade

Sculpture - Indus Valley Civilization

Two stone male figures were found that are: Torso in red sandstone and Bust of a bearded man in steatite. The bronze casting was widely used after the lost wax technique.

Lost Wax Technique

The wax figures are covered with a coating of clay and allowed to dry. After that, it is heated and the molten wax is allowed to drain through a tiny hole at the bottom of the clay.

Then, the hollow mould is filled with bronze or any other metal and once the metal is cooled, the clay is removed. For Example:

Statue of a Dancing Girl
Buffalo with its uplifted head, back and horns

Terracotta - Indus Valley Civilization

Terracotta is a fire-baked clay and it is handmade using the pinching method. The terracotta representations of the human form are crude as compared to stone and bronze statues. Some examples are:

Mother Goddess
Toy carts with wheels

Pottery - Indus Valley Civilization

The pottery of this era is mainly plain and painted in red and black. However, plain pottery is more common than a painted one. It mainly consisted of the very fine wheel-made wares and only a very few hand-made.

The pottery was mainly used for the household purposes such as storage of water, food grains, etc.
And the miniature vessels (Less than 1/2 inch) were used for decoration

Vessels with a large hole at the bottom and small holes all over the wall are used as perforated pottery. These vessels were probably used for straining liquor.

Beads and Ornaments

The beads and ornaments of the Indus Valley Civilization were made of precious metals, gemstones, bone and even baked clay. The most common ornaments were necklaces, armlets and finger rings.

Evidence was also found of dead bodies buried along with ornaments
For cosmetics, Lipstick and face-paint, Cinnabar was used
This civilization was also familiar with eyeliners

Extensive Town Planning

There were Citadel/Acropolis in cities for members of the ruling class and the common used to live in a town just below the citadel in brick houses. Evidence of public buildings, administrative or business centres, pillared halls and courtyards were also found.

The people of this civilization were also familiar with the concept of two-stories houses
The fortifications with gateways enclosing the walled cities suggest that there was fear of being attacked
Baked bricks were used as a building material on a large scale
The granaries in Citadels with strategic air-ducts suggests the idea of an organised collection and distribution system

There was a remarkable grid system of roads where roads cut at a right angle to each other. There was also an underground drainage system that connected each house and street while being covered with bricks/stone slabs which were quite remarkable. No temples have been found at any of the sites which suggests that it was ruled by merchants and not priests.

There was the presence of weights also (Mostly in multiple of 16) used for trade and for measurement, bronze made marked sticks were used. The Great Bath shows the importance of ritualistic bathing and cleanliness in this culture.