Basic features of Indus Valley Civilization:
- The Indus Valley civilization is the first known Urban Culture in India.
- Majority of the sites developed on the banks of river Indus, Ghaggar and its tributaries.
- This civilisation is credited for building cities complete with : town planning, sanitation, drainage system and broad well-laid roads.
- They also built double storied houses of burnt-bricks complete with bathroom , kitchen, and a well.
- Their Walled cities had important buildings such as, the Great Bath, Granaries and the Assembly Halls.
- Thier Agriculture was considered major occupation for rural areas.While the City residents were involved in internal & external trade which led to developed contacts with other civilizations ( e.g. Mesopotamia).
- Harappans were excellent potters as is evident by their artifacts.
- Harappans also had technical knowledge of metals & process of alloying (e.g. bronze sculpture of dancing girl found in Mohenjodaro).
- Also, Shell, ivory, bone and faience were used as material for different crafts.
- Here, Lothal deserves special mention as the site for dockyard. It is situated in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
- Lothal was a well planned walled city which was an important centre of sea trade with the western world.
- Other important cites were- Dhaulavira (Guj.) & Kalibangam (Rajasthan).
- Harappans used to worship plants, animals and the forces of nature.
- They also worshipped male god resembling Lord Shiva of later times and a mother goddess.
- They also probably believed in life after death and also in charms and spells.
- Their Seals were engraved with animal figures (e.g. humped bull, elephant and rhinoceros). This suggests that these animals were considered sacred.
- The image of ‘Peepal’ tree is found depicted on many seals.
- Harappan script is yet to be deciphered. Hence, our knowledge of Harappan civilization is solely based on archaeological evidence alone.
- Harappans were the first people to cultivate cotton. They knew the art of spinning & weaving.
Important sites of Indus Valley Civilisations
Firstly, lets look at major sites:
- Harappa was an urban center. It is in Punjab Province of Pakistan, located on an old river-bed of River Ravi.
- Mohenjo Daro is located in Sindh province of Pakistan, which is next to the river Indus.
- Dholavira is situated on ‘Khadir Beyt’, which is an island in Rann of Kutch,Gujarat, India.
- Lothal is located near the Sabarmati river and Arabian sea, in the Gulf of Khambat, Gujarat, India.
- Rakhigarhi was discovered in Haryana, India only in 1990.
- Ganeriwala is located in Punjab province of Pakistan and is very near to the Indian border.
Minor Sites are also being excavated with reference to Indus Valley Civilization:
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