IVC: Sculptures, Pottery and Inscriptions

Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) can be dated around 2500-1750 BC based on radiocarbon dating. It is also called Harappan Civilization. The site was first discovered through excavation in 1921 under the supervision of Daya Ram Sahni. This civilization’s long-term indigenous evolution was originally begun on the periphery of the Indus Valley in the hills of eastern Baluchistan and then extended into the plains.

Chronology

Harappan culture was a long and complicated cultural process. The following general chronology for the three phases of the Harappan culture is derived from the calibration of radiocarbon dates from different sites:

• The early Harappan stage (3200-2600B.C.) was the developmental, proto-metropolitan period of the way of life
• The mature Harappan phase (2600-1900 B.C.) was the urban phase, the full-fledged stage of civilization. Most of the urban characteristics are associated with this phase
• The late Harappan phase (1900-1300 B.C.) was the post-urban phase when the cities started to decline and gradually declined

Geographical Distribution

Various archaeological excavations have brought to light the extent of the Indus Valley Civilisation, which is 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 most remarkable feature encountered in the Indus Valley Civilization is their Town Planning. A citadel on a higher mound on the western side & a lower town on the eastern side of the settlement can be found in almost all the major Harappan sites like Mohenjo-Daro. Intersecting at right angles, the streets appear to be the criss-cross pattern. Hence such streets divide the residential areas into various small blocks

• Planning of houses: The houses were largely built of burnt bricks. Most doorways and windows faced the side streets, and only a few opened onto the main streets. There were stairs in some buildings, suggesting an upper floor as well
• Drainage system: The drainage system of the Harappans was elaborate and well laid out. Every residential building had a drain that was connected to the street drain. Such drains were kept covered with stone slabs, bricks, or manholes, which assisted in cleaning. These were found at regular intervals at the sides of the streets
• Rural-Urban interaction: As the urban population had to depend on the surrounding countryside to supply food and many other necessary products, a village-town (rural-urban) interrelationship emerged

IVC –Sculptures, Pottery, and Inscription

The Indus valley civilization is also known as the Bronze Age Civilization. Pottery of the Indus valley Civilisation consists of very fine wheel-made wares and very few being handmade. Plain pottery was generally made of red clay and was more common than painted pottery.  The beginning of stone sculpture goes back to the early civilization of Indus valley, a large number of terracotta figurines from these Indus Valley sites are called Indus valley sculptures. Bronze statues were made from the lost wax technique which was a widespread practice during IVC. The bronze Dancing Girl of the Indus valley civilization discovered at Mohenjodaro is perhaps the greatest surviving achievement of metalwork. The Indus script is also known as the Harappan script, is a corpus of symbols produced by the Indus Valley civilization. In spite of many efforts, the script has not been deciphered. 

Lifestyle

Agriculture

Various features which were uniform in nature could be found here, such as the subsistence pattern, soil type, and climate. Monsoons and Himalayan rivers were the feeders for water as the land was flat and supported cultivation. Since the area had peculiar geographical features, it supported the agro-pastoral economy. Pastoralism accompanied by Agriculture was the mainstay of the Harappan economy.

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

Wheat, Barley, Sesamum, Mustard, Peas, Jujube, etc., form the staple food crops of the Harappans. Lothal and Rangpur had husks and pottery, which was considered the evidence of rice. Cotton was another important crop. The ploughed field was discovered at early Harappan levels at Kalibangan. Shortughai had evidence of the existence of Irrigation Canals.

Animal husbandry, Hunting, Riverine, and Marine Resources

• Wild animals: Bones of wild animals have been found at Harappan sites. These include many deer, rhinoceros, elephants, camels, etc. Tigers are commonly portrayed in figurines, while leopards are less frequently depicted
• Riverine and marine resources: The Harappans exploited riverine and marine resources where these were available. Dried fish and mollusks provided an important protein-rich element in people’s diets
• Domesticated animals: Harappan locales have additionally yielded stays of tamed creatures like bumped and humpless dairy cattle, bison, sheep, and goat. The question of whether the people’s new horse is controversial

External Trade

The Harappans were occupied with outside exchanges with Mesopotamia. It was through Oman and Bahrain in the Persian Gulf to a great extent. The main imports were copper, gold, tin, and several semi-precious stones.

Standardisation

The standardised system of weights and measures might have supported the trade. The Harappa crafts and inscription 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 have been excavated.

The system is binary in the smaller weights (1:2:8:16:32:64), and the higher weights’ decimals are used. They may have been used to control trade and possibly collect taxes.

Conclusion

Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) can be dated around 2500-1750 BC based on radiocarbon dating. It is also called 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. Pottery of the Indus valley Civilisation consists of very fine wheel-made wares and very few being handmade. Various archaeological excavations have brought to light the extent of the Indus Valley Civilisation, which is Sutkagendor situated on the Makran Coast (Western limit) and Alamgirpur in Uttar Pradesh (Eastern Limit).