There are traces and evidence about the trading relationship of the Harappan people with different civilisations of the world. There are evidence that suggests that copper in the Harappan civilisation was brought from Oman. Chemical analyse have shown that both the Omani copper and the Harappan artefacts have traces of nickel suggesting common origin. There…
Harappan script is considered as an Enigmatic script: Harappan seals usually have a line of writing, probably containing the name and title of the owner. Most inscriptions are short, the longest containing about 26 signs. Although the script remains undeciphered to date, it was evidently not alphabetical (where each sign stands for a vowel or…
Some of the common subsistence strategies in both cultures are: The people of both cultures ate a different variety of plants and animals, including aquatic species like fish. The discovery of charred grains and seeds depicts that a wide range of dietary practices was prevalent. Grains such as wheat, barley, chickpeas, lentils have been discovered…
The settlements in the Mohenjodaro were divided into two sections. The first section was at the higher level but was smaller in expansion. On the other hand, the second section was at the lower level but was larger in expansion. The upper section was designated as the Citadel by the archaeologist and the lower section…
The structures that were generally used for public services and ceremonies were found in the Citadel. Some of the important structures were: There was a discovery of a massive warehouse whose lower structure made up of brick was discovered. The upper portion was made of wood and was decayed. There was the discovery of the…
One simple principle of classification is in terms of material, such as stone, clay, metal, bone, ivory, etc. The second and more complicated, is in terms of function: archaeologists have to decide whether for instance an artefact is a tool or an ornament or both or something meant for ritual use. Archaeologists also try to…
The Lower Town in the Mohenjodaro have numerous examples of residential buildings: Many of the buildings were centred around the courtyard and the rooms were spread on all the sides. The courtyard served as the main centre of several activities like weaving, cooking, etc. The residential buildings gave special emphasis to privacy as there were…
One of the most astonishing features of the Harappan civilisation was the drainage system of their cities. It was very carefully planned. Some of its features are: The streets and towns in the cities were laid out in a grid pattern intersecting at the right angles. The streets had proper drains at regular intervals having…
The largest number of Harappan sites in post-independence India have been found in Gujarat. All three stages of Harappan culture – early, mature and late – have been found. Important sites include Lothal, Surkotada, Padri, Rangpur, Rojdi, among others. In 1984, 101 Harappan sites were discovered in Gujarat. Thirty sites were discovered in Kutch, twelve…