The Indus Valley Civilization

Indus Valley Civilization is the oldest civilization, which spans from 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE. This civilization is also known as the Harappan Civilization, which was named after the discovery of the first site that was excavated by Dayaram Sahni in 1921. In this article, we will provide you with all the relevant and exam-related information in one place for our students. Let’s start.

About Indus Valley Civilization:

Period: 3300-1300 BCE

Flourished period: Between 2600 BC and 1900 BC

The flourished period of the Indus Valley Civilization was also known as the Mature Indus Valley Civilization.

This civilization started declining around 1900 BC and disappeared around 1400 BC.

The Indus Valley Civilization is also known as the Harappan Civilization because Harappan was the first site that was excavated.

 About Harappan:

• Extension: From northeast Afghanistan to Pakistan and northwest India

• Discovered by: Dayaram Sahni

• Discovered in: 1921

• Pre-Harappan civilization has been excavated in Mehrgar, located in Pakistan.

Geographical Extent of Indus Valley Civilization (IVC)

• Geographical extension: Western UP, Northern Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan

• It has been extended from Sutkagengor (in Baluchistan) to Alamgirpur (Western UP) from West to East respectively.

• It extended from Mandu (Jammu) to Daimabad (Ahmednagar, Maharashtra) from North to South respectively.

• The traces of Indus Valley Civilization have also been found as far away as Afghanistan and Turkmenistan.

• Most sites founded in this civilization are as follow:

  • Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro

  • Lothal (on river Bhogawa in Gujarat)

  • Kalibanga (on river Ghaggar-Hakra in Rajasthan)

  • Banawali (on river Ghaggar-Hakra in Haryana)

  • Dholavira (on river Luni in Gujarat)

Town Planning

As per the archaeologists, the cities located in the Indus civilization were well-planned.

During the excavations at Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, the archaeologists found that the cities were divided into two parts i.e. the citadel and the outer city.

• Citadel: It was built on an elevated area

• Outer city: It was built at a lower level

Perfect drainage system

Each house had a well-constructed sink, through which water flowed into the underground drains.

Small and large types of houses

Burnt bricks were used.

Wells and bathrooms provided in houses

Structures found in the Indus cities:

• The Great Bath and pillared hall (Mohenjo-Daro)

• The dockyard (Lothal)

• The granary (Harappa)

Indus Valley Sites:

Harappa

• Location: Punjab Province, Pakistan (on an old bank of Ravi River)

• Excavated in: 1921

• Excavated by: Daya Ram Sahni

• Traces: Chert blades, Pottery, copper/ bronze implements, seals and sealing, terracotta figurines, weights Coffin burials (Only founded in Harrapa)

Mohenjo-Daro

• Location: Sindh, Pakistan (Next to the Indus River)

• Founded in: 1922

• Founded by: R. D Banerjee

• Traces: Uniform buildings and weights, Great Bath, Unicorn Seals, Steatite statue of beard man, hidden drains, Ganary, Bronze buffalo, Pashupati Seal steatite seal

Sutkagendor

• Location: Baluchistan on Dast river

• Founded by: Stein

• Founded in: 1929

• Traces: Flint Blades, Trade point between Harappa and Babylon, Stone Arrowheads, Stone Vessels, Pottery, Shell Beads

Chanhudaro

• Location: Mullan Sandha, Sind (on the Indus river)

• Founded in: 1931

• Founded by: N G Majumdar

• Traces: Bangle Factory, Indus Site with no Citadel, Ink Pot, Bead makers shop, The footprint of a dog chasing a cat, and Cart with a seated driver

Amri Mound

• Location: Indus River and the Laki Hills (District of Dadu, Pakistan)

• Founded by: N G Majumdar

• Founded in: 1929

• Traces: Antelope evidence and Rhinoceros’ evidence

Kalibangan

• Location: Hanumangarh District, Rajasthan (Located on the bank of Saraswati River)

• Discovered by: Luigi Pio Tessitori (Italy)

• A Ghosh did the most extensive work on Kalibangan in 1951-55 and later by BB Lal & B K Thapar did work on this site in 1961.

• Traces: Fire altars were discovered, Ploughed fields, No drainage system, Wooden furrows (for sacrifices), Burials in circular grave and rectangular graves, Bones of camel

Lothal

• Location: Gulf of Khambat (Dhalka taluk of Ahmadabad, Gujarat)
• It is located along the Bhogava River, which is a tributary of Sabarmati
• Excavated in: 1957
• Excavated by: S R Rao
• Traces: Warehouse, dockyard, Workshop for manufacturing of stone beads, rice husk, evidence of shell working, and a cemetery, Dockyard in 35×22 meters size

Surkotada

• Location: Bhuj (Gujarat)
• Discovered by: Jagat Pati Joshi of ASI
• Discovered and excavated in: 1964-1968
• Traces: Beads, Bones of horses, and Stone Covered Beads

Banawali  

• Location: Fatehabad district of Haryana

• Discovered by R S Bisht

• Discovered in: 1973-74

• Traces: High-quality Barley, Toy plough, Beads, and only city with radial streets

Dholavira

• Location: Rann of Kutch (Gujarat)

• Discovered by: R S Bisht

• Discovered in: 1985

• Traces: Exclusive water management

• This is the only site, till now, which was divided into three parts i.e. Embankments Stadium, Rock – Cut architecture, and Dam

Other sites of Indus Valley Civilization

Kot Diji

• It was a pre-Harappan site

• Location: It is located on the left bank of the Sindh River.

• Destroyed by:  Force or some fire.

• Traces: Tar and Statues of bull and mother goddess.

Ropar

• Location: Ropar (Punjab)

• Excavated by: Y D Sharma

Mitathal

• Location: Bhiwani district (Haryana)

• Traces: Terracotta cartwheel and Weights of stones

Rakhigarhi

• Location: Hissar district (Haryana), located on the bank of Saraswati-Drishadvati rivers

• Founded in: 1997

• Founded by: Prof. Surajbhan & Acharya Bhagwan Dev

• Traces: The team founded the eEvidences of two cultures early harappan and mature harappan.