Indus Valley Civilization

Radiocarbon dating places the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) between 2500 and 1750 BC. It is also known as the Harappan civilization. Under the supervision of archaeologist Daya Ram Sahni, the site was initially identified through excavation in 1921. This civilization’s long-term indigenous evolution began on the outskirts of the Indus Valley, in the highlands of eastern Balochistan, and eventually spread into the plains.

Art and Architecture of Indus Valley Civilization

Art and Architecture of Harappan Civilization

The Harappan culture came about as a result of a long and complicated cultural process. Below is a general three-phase chronology of the Harappan culture. This is derived from the calibration of radiocarbon dates from different sites:

Geographical Distribution

Various archaeological excavations have brought to light the extent of the Indus Valley Civilization, which ranged from Sutkagendor situated on the Makran Coast (western limit) and Alamgirpur in Uttar Pradesh (eastern limit).

Settlement Pattern

The varying size of the Harappan sites: The Harappan sites varied a great deal in size and function, from large cities to small pastoral camps. 

Town planning: The Harappan civilization’s town planning is the most fascinating aspect of its urban design. Almost every significant site (Harappa, Mohenjodaro, Kalibangan, and others) is divided into two sections: a citadel on the western side of the village and a lower town on the eastern side. In a criss-cross layout, the streets connect at right angles. It separates the city into a number of residential areas.

Planning of houses: The houses were largely built of burnt bricks. The majority of doorways and windows faced the side streets, and only a few opened onto the main streets. There were stairs in some buildings, suggesting that there was an upper floor as well.

Drainage system: The Harappans had a complex and well-designed drainage system. Every home had drains that connected to the public sewer system. These drains were covered with manholes. 

Rural-urban interaction: Due to the urban population’s reliance on the surrounding countryside for food and many other necessities, a village-town (rural-urban) connection emerged.     

Lifestyle 

Agriculture

In terms of soil type, climate, and subsistence pattern, this area shared some common characteristics. The area was flat, and the only source of water was monsoons and Himalayan rivers. The agro-pastoral economy was the major feature in this region due to its unique geographical location. The Harappan economy was based on agriculture and pastoralism (cattle-rearing).

This area’s resource capacity was adequate to produce food surpluses, which is an important feature of urbanisation. The variety of the subsistence base may also have played a role in its survival for an extended period of time.

Animal Husbandry, Hunting, and Riverine and Marine Resources

Wild animals: Bones of wild animals have been found at Harappan sites. These include many varieties of deer, rhinoceros, elephants, camels, etc. Tigers were commonly portrayed in figurines, while leopards were less frequently depicted.

Riverine and marine resources: The Harappans exploited riverine and marine resources where these were available. Dried fish and molluscs served as important protein-rich elements in people’s diets.

Domesticated animals: The remains of domesticated animals such as humped and humpless cows, buffalo, sheep, and goats have also been discovered in Harappan sites. 

External Trade

The Harappans traded with Mesopotamia on a regular basis. In the Persian Gulf, it was mostly through Oman and Bahrain. The presence of Harappa artefacts like beads, seals, dice, and other items in these areas supports this theory. Copper, gold, tin, and a variety of semi-precious stones were the most common imports.

Standardisation

The standardised system of weights and measures might have supported trade. The Harappa crafts show a remarkable degree of standardisation. Weights and measures units were also standardised. Cubical weights made of chalcedony, chert, black stone, and other materials have been discovered at all of the sites that were excavated.

The system is binary in the smaller weights (1:2:8:16:32:64) and decimal in the higher weights. These weights have been found in recent excavations at Harappa. They may have been used for controlling trade and possibly also for collecting taxes.

Conclusion

The Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) can be dated around 2500-1750 BC based on radiocarbon dating. It is also known as the Harappan Civilization. Since the area had peculiar geographical features, it supported the agro-pastoral economy. Pastoralism accompanied by agriculture was the mainstay of the Harappan economy. The Indus Valley Civilization is also known as the Bronze Age Civilization. Various archaeological excavations have brought to light the extent of the Indus Valley Civilization, which ranged from Sutkagendor situated on the Makran Coast (western limit) and Alamgirpur in Uttar Pradesh (eastern limit).