Major Sites –indus valley civilization-ugc

Major Sites –indus valley civilization

 Harappa

 The Great Granary measuring 1 69 ft x 3 5 feet is the largest and the most remarkable structure found at Harappa.

 So far 891 seals have been recovered from Harappa, and that  is 40% of the total number of seals belonging to  Indus Valley Civilization that have been found.

 A red sandstone naked male torso has been found,  which  shows  traces of Jainism

 Between the granary and the citadel, have also been  found a  series of circular platforms, probably for the pounding of grain

 At a lower level below the granary, platforms and the citadel were crowded one-room dwellings,  which suggest slave habitats.

 Mohenjodaro

 In Sindhi language, the word Mohenjodaro means mound of the dead’.

 It is the largest of all Indus cities

 The Great Bath is the most important public place, measuring 39 feet (length) X 23 feet (breadth) X 8 feet (depth).

Located at the center of the citadel, it is remarkable for beautiful brickwork  Its   floor is made of burnt bricks set in

gypsum and mortar.  It must have served as a  ritual-bathing site

 Remains have been found of an oblong  multi-pillared assembly  hall  and a big   rectangular building, which  must have

served administrative purposes.

 Most of Mohenjodaro houses are built of kiln-fired brick

 The major streets are 33 feet wide and run north-south, intersecting subordinate  ones, running east-west at right angles. 

 The evidence of Indian ships (figured on   a  seal) and a piece  of woven cloth has been discovered from here

 There is a large granary consisting of podium of square blocks of burnt-bricks   with a wooden superstructure

 Parallel rows of two-roomed cottages found The workmen or poor sections Of the society perhaps  used  these cottages.   Abronzedancinggirl,steatitestatueof  a priest and a seal bearing Pashupati have been found here

 It   is important to remember that Mohenjodaro shows nine levels of occupation towering over 300 feet above the present flood  plain

 Excavation reveals that the city was flooded More than seven times

Kalibangan

 Has pre-Harappan  as  well as Harappan cultural phases.

 Less developed compared to Mohenjodaro

 There is evidence of mud-brick fortification

 Pre-Harappan phase here  shows that  the fields were ploughed unlike the Harappan  period.

 Archaeologists have discovered two platforms (within the citadel) with fire altars suggesting the practice  of cult sacrifice

 The existence of wheel conveyance is proved by a cartwheel having a single hub

Chanhudaro

 Only Indus city without a citadel.

 Existence of Pre-Harappan as well as Harappan cultural phase

 A small pot was discovered here, which was probably an ink pot.

 Excavations reveal   that   people of Chanhudaro  were  expert  craftsmen. Archaeologists have discovered here metalworkers’, shell-ornament makers’ and bead-makers’  shops

 The city was twice destroyed by inundations.Here more extensive but indirect evidence of super-imposition of  a barbarian lifestyle is seen

Banwali

 Like Kalibangan,  Amri,  Kot  Diji  and Harappa, Banwali  also saw two   cultural phases - pre-Harappan and Harappan.

 Human and animal figures, clay bangles and statue of  mother Goddess found here.

 Here we find large quantity of barely, sesamum  and mustard.

                Surkotada

 Excavations leveal a  citadel  and a lower town, both of which were fortified.

 It is the only Indus site where the remains of a horse have actually been round.

Kot  Diji

 Pre-Harappan and Harappan phases found.

 According to excavations, the city was probably destroyed due to fire

 Wheel made painted pottery, traces of a defensive wall and well-aligned streets,knowledge of metallurgy, artistic toys etc.

 Five figur ines of Mother Goddess discovered

Ropar

 The excavations have yielded five-fold sequence of cultures — Harappan,  PGW, NBP, Kushana-Gupta and Medieval. The evidence of burying a dog below the human burial is very interesting

 One example of rectangular  mudbrick ‘chamber was noticed.

Dholavira

 It is the latest and one of the two largest Harappan settlements in India, the othe   being Rakhigarhir in Haryana

 The other Harappan towns were divided into two parts — Citadel and the Lower  Town,  but Dholavira  was divided

into three  principal  divisions,  two of which  were strongly  protected by  rectangular fortifications.

 There are two inner enclosures — the first one  hemmed  in the  citadel  (which     probably housed  the highest 

authority)and the second one protected the middle  town  (meant for  the  close relatives  of the rulers  and  other officials). The existence of this middle town, apart from the lower town, is the  real exclusive  feature of this  city.

Lothal

 Only Indus site with an artificial brick dockyard.  It must have  served  as  the   main seaport of the Indus  people  It was surrounded by  a  massive brick wall,    probably as flood protection.

 Lothal  has evidence  for  the earliest cultivation of rice  (1800 BC)  The   only other Indus site  where rice husk has  been found  is  Rangpur near   Ahmedabad.

 Fire  altars, indicating  the  probable existence of a fire cult, have been  found

 A doubtful terracotta figurine of horse is found her