One of the first and oldest civilizations, along with the ones in Egypt and Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley Civilization emerged between 2500 and 1750 BC and plays an important role in giving us a peek into important facts about Indian history. Despite being buried for thousands of years, the remains of this ancient settlement managed to surface and grab the attention of archaeologists in India.
When excavations began in 1921, the first city to be discovered was Harappa. This is why it is also called the Harappan civilization. As the excavations happened on other Indus civilization sites, townships in similar grid patterns were discovered. Gradually, the civilization became known for its planned cities and well-organized drainage system.
As more archaeological expeditions took place, many objects were unearthed, which gave many insights into the lifestyle, beliefs, and daily practices of the people of the ancient Indus Valley civilization. Figurines made of clay and metal, along with utensils, jewelry, and tools, were among the many ancient artifacts that were discovered.
Figures - Terracotta figures of animals were found along with statues of men and women. Toys made of terracotta like carts and rattles were also found. A sculpture of the Mother Goddess was found in Harappa. She was most likely associated with health and fertility. A stone figure of the Nataraja form of Lord Shiva was also found.
One of the most famous figures discovered was the steatite statue of a priest. The statue depicts a bearded Harappan priest wearing amulets and draped in an embroidered shawl. This gives us an insight into the fashion culture of the civilization. We can gauge that garments like shawls were popular among the Harappans.
Seals - Largely used for commercial purposes and as identity cards, seals were an important part of the ancient Indus Valley civilization. Embossed with animal figures like tiger, elephant, bull, goat, rhinoceros, etc, seals made of steatite were used a lot by the Harappans. A seal depicting Pashupati Mahadeva in a seated position flanked by animals of various kinds was found. While some seals were in 2x2 measurements, some were a little bigger.
Jewelry - Jewelry was part of Harappan fashion as well. The inhabitants of the oldest civilization in the world liked to deck themselves with various ornaments like necklaces, armlets, rings, girdles, etc. Both men and women wore it.
Jewelry like bangles made of clay and shell, gold earrings, copper bracelets, head gears, and necklaces made of beads, gold, and semi-precious stones were found during diggings. Bead-making factories in Lothal and Chanhudaro gave evidence of a variety of beads made from crystal, jasper, clay, amethyst, quartz, and many other materials.
Pottery - Vessels of different shapes and sizes were unearthed as well. A majority of pottery was plain and made from red clay and some was decorated with geometric patterns and other simple yet beautiful motifs. Some of the pottery was also inscribed with the Indus script. Large urns were excavated at sites in Kalibangan in the present-day Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan.
From perforated pots to beautifully wheel-made vases, pans, cooking vessels, and a whole lot of earthenware was found at these sites and gave a glimpse into the daily life practices of the people.
Bronze Figures - Bronze casting was practiced in the Indus Valley Civilisation to make beautiful figurines. The lost wax technique was used by artisans to create fascinating idols out of bronze. Some bronze statues that were found at Harappan sites included the figures of a dog chasing deer, a buffalo, etc. However, one of the most significant finds was the bronze figure of a dancing girl.
Standing at a height of 11 cm, it was unearthed in Mohenjo Daro. The discovery of this statue tells us that dance existed as an art form at that time and was enjoyed by the people of this civilization. Bronze toys found in Rakhigarhi are among the many bronze finds from the Harappan sites.
The discovery of the Indus Valley civilization was an important step towards learning more about Indian history. Spread over almost 8 lakh square kilometers, this expansive society stretched from Northeast Afghanistan to Northwest India.
It was a society that left behind no temples or tombs, no palaces or forts, and yet gives us insights into its culture solely through the ancient artifacts that are being discovered now and tell us tales of a society that was founded on peace and believed in values of brotherhood and unity. The happy human figures and the lack of weapons found at Harappan sites are evidence of this. The discovery of terracotta figures and seals of deities tells us about the religious beliefs of the Harappan people.
It was a society complete in every way with accurate measurement systems, well-planned townships, and even evolved art forms. Practices like cattle rearing and farming were very common and the society was also well connected with the rest of the world through trade.
Q. What kind of civilization is Indus?
The Indus Valley Civilisation is a Bronze Age Civilisation.
Q. What are some differences between Eqypt and Indus Valley?
The Egyptians were ruled by Pharaohs, and their society had evidence of a monarchical system. However, there is no evidence of monarchy existing in the Indus Valley civilization.
Q. Does the Indus Valley Civilization belong to India?
The ancient Indus civilization had many sites in both pre-independence and post-independence India.
Q. Why did people leave the Indus Valley Civilization?
One of the reasons could be the shift of monsoons that reduced the water supply in the region.
Q. What are the artifacts of the Harappan civilization called?
They are called Harappan artifacts.
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