Introduction to Indus Valley Civilization (Harappan Civilization) from 2350-1750 BC

• Indus Valley Civilization (2350-1750 BC) is also called as Harappan civilization because Harappa was the first site to be excavated in 1921 under the supervision of Daya Ram Sahni.
• The known extent of the civilization in the west is upto Sutkagendor in Baluchistan; Alamgirpur South; and Manda (Jammu and Kashmir) in the north.
• Indus Valley civilization belongs to Bronge Age/ Chalcolithic age. Hence, it is also called bronze age civilization.
• Contemporary civilizations of Harappan civilization are Mesopotamian or Sumerian civilization, Egyptian civilization and Chinese civilization.

Important Sites of Harappan Civilization

S.No	Site	Location	River bank
1	Harappa	Montegomari, Punjab (Pakistan)	Ravi
2	Mohenjodaro	Larkana, Sindh (Pakistan)	Indus
3	Sutkagenoor	Baluchistan (Pakistan)	Dashta
4	Chanhudaro	Sindh (Pakistan)	Indus
5	Rangpur	Ahmedabad (India)	Meedar
6	Kalibangan	Ganganagar (Rajasthan)	Ghaggar
7	Lothal	Ahmedabad	Sabarmati & Bhogva
8	Banwali	Hissar (Haryana)	Saraswati

Note: large number of Harappan Civilization sites were found in Gujarat.

General Facts About Some Sites

1. Harappa

• Working floors consisting of rows of circular brick platforms which were meant for threshing grain have been found here.
• Six granaries and sixteen agnikundas (firepits) have been found here.
• People of Harappa knew the process of making tarcoal.
• Main gate for the entry in the houses of Harappa was in the north direction.
• R-37 cementry have been found here.
• Terracotto figurine of Mother goddess have been found here.

2. Mohenjodaro

• Mohenjodaro was discovered in 1922 under the supervision of R.D. Bannerji.
• The literal meaning of Mohenjodaro in sindhi language is mound of the dead.
• The Great Bath, a granary, big halls, a bronze statue of a dancing girl, idol of a yogi and numerous seals have been found here.
• The evidences of a assembly hall and proper planned houses with a kitchen and courtyard have been found at Mohenjodaro.
• Seven layers of Mohenjodaro city directs that the city was destroyed and rebuilt seven times.

3. Lothal

• A dockyard have been found at Lothal.
• In 1957, Lothal was discovered by S.R. Rao in Gulf of Cambay in Gujarat.
• Red & black clay pots, copper tools, brick built tank like structure, a bread making factory and a seal from Iran have been found at Lothal.
• Linear scale of bronze have been found here.

4. Kalibangan

• Kalibangan was not as well planned or organised as Mohenjodaro was.
• It did not have a drainage system.
• A number of agnikundas (firepits) have been found here.
• Kalibangan was discovered in 1953. it is located in upper Rajasthan.
• It saw two cultural phases viz. Pre-Harappan and Harappan.
• A ploughed field have been found here.

5. Dhaulavira

• Dhaulavira in Gujarat was discovered in 1992 by J.P. Joshi.
• Dhaulavira shows all the three phases of Harappan civilization.
• A script consists of big alphabets has been found on a gate in Dhaulavira.