Harappan Civilization

HARAPPAN CIVILIZATION (2700-1700 BC)

• In 1921-22 John Marshal, (DG of ASI) & his colleague R D Banerjee lead the excavation at Harappa and  Mohenjo-Daro.
• Later discovered sites: Ropar near Chandigarh; Lothal near Ahmedabad; Kalibangan in Rajasthan; Kot Diji and  Chanhudaro in Sind; Dholavira in Kutch district in Gujarat; Banwali in Hissar and Sutkagendor near Makran  Coast in Pakistan and region along the river Hakara (Ghaggar-Saraswati course called so in Pak territory in  Cholistan).

EXTENT:-

• Spread over Afghanistan, Sind, and Baluchistan, Jammu almost whole Punjab, northern Rajasthan,  Kathiawar and Gujarat.
• Harappa Ghaggar (Kalibangan)- Mohenjo-Daro axis represents heart land of Harappan civilization.

SITES:-

HARAPPA:-

• Located on bank of river Ravi

• Ranks as premier city of Civilization

• Substantial section was engaged in activities such as administration, trade, craft work/  religion.

• Located midst of important trade routes

MOHENJO-DARO:-

• Located on bank of river Indus

• Largest Harappan City

KALIBANGAN:-

• Located on dried up bed of river Ghaggar, and was excavated in 1960 under the guidance of B K Thapar.
• Yielded evidence of early Harappan Period

LOTHAL:-

• Located in Gujarat, settlements such as Rangapur, Surkotada & Lothal have been discovered.
• Located in coastal flats on Gulf of Cambay stood beside a tributary of Sabarmati.
• Important center for making objects out of stone, shells and metal
• Outpost for sea-trade with contemporary west Asian societies particularly Oman.
• Excavator S R Rao discovered dockyard & Persian gulf seal here

SUTKAGEN-DOR:-

• Located near Makran Coast which is close to Pakistan-Iran border.

DHOLAVIRA CITY:-

• Located on Khadir Beyt in Runn of Kutch. Unlike other cities was divided into three parts &  each part was surrounded with massive stone walls.

MAJOR CHARACTERISTICS:-

TOWN PLANNING:-

• Urbanization was remarkable feature
• Each city was divided into Citadel area where essential institutions of civil & religious life were  located & lower residential area where urban population lived.
• In Citadel area of Mohenjo-Daro Great Bath and Granaries are found
• Lower town was divided into wards
• Rectangular town planning

• Arterial roads with covered drainage

AGRICULTURE:-

• Cultivated :- wheat, barley, peas, dated, sesame, mustard

• People of Lothal cultivated rice

• Harappan grew cotton
• Harappan used wooden plough; also used toothed arrow

STOCK BREEDING:-

• Sheep, goats, humped cattle, buffalo, pig, elephant were domesticated
• Camel was rare and horse was unknown

TRADE AND IT’S NETWORK:-

• System of weights & measures was excellent

• Small as well as large perfectly made cubes of agate were employed for weighing goods
• Weights followed binary system-1,2,4,6….64
• For length measurements strips of shell, unshrinkable in heat & cold were used.
• Measurement was based on foot of 37.6 cm
• Nageshwar and Balakot- where shell was available
• Shortughai (Afghanistan) was best source of Lapis Lazuli

• Lothal- carnelian; steatite-south RJ & north of GJ; jade- Central Asia and amethyst from  Maharashtra & metal from RJ