The Indus Valley Civilization was a sophisticated Bronze Age urban culture circa 3300-1300 BCE spanning across modern-day Pakistan and northwest India. It was the largest of the early near east civilizations and was famous for planned cities, such as Harappa and Mohenjo-daro.
The Indus Valley Civilization is one of the world’s oldest civilizations in world history. It flourished around 2500 BCE, long before many other well-known civilizations. Yet, this civilization was way beyond its time as it developed the Great Bath, an amazing sanitation system, advanced urban planning and people had amazing artistic abilities. Due to the presence across the Indus valley, inhabitants had access to fertile lands. This civilization is special due to its well-organized cities and unique ways of life. The people of this civilization showed a level of skill and knowledge that feels surprisingly modern.
The Indus Valley Civilization was discovered in the early 20th century, and major sites such as Harappa and Mohenjo-daro revealed a society that had strong trade networks and a rich cultural life. However, unlike some other civilizations that left behind precise written records, many facts about the Indus Valley people remain unknown. Most of the sites of the Indus Valley Civilization are in India, such as Dholavira, Lothal, Rakhigari and Banawali.
What is Indus Valley Civilization?
The Indus Valley Civilization was a sophisticated Bronze Age urban culture circa 3300-1300 BCE spanning across modern-day Pakistan and northwest India. It was the largest of the early near east civilizations and was famous for planned cities, such as Harappa and Mohenjo-daro. It included grid systems, sanitation and early sanitation technology such as bathing facilities, fire-baked bricks and metallurgy.
Origin & Discovery of Indus Valley Civilization
The Indus Valley Civilization was discovered in the 1920s through excavations at Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro in modern-day Pakistan. The excavation was led by Rai Bahadur Daya Ram Sahni and Rakhaldas Banerji. This discovery of Indus Valley Civilization was triggered by brick robbers and railway workers finding strange artifacts and fire-baked bricks. Let’s take a look at the origin & discovery of Indus Valley Civilization:-
Initial Clues
Railway workers unknowingly used ancient, durable fire-baked bricks from the site of Harappa to lay tracks. After that, explorers and archaeologists collected seals from the area in the mid-19th century, but failed to realise the site was part of a major previously unknown civilization.
Key Excavations
In 1921, Rai Bahadur Daya Ram Sahni began conducting extensive excavations at Harappa on the Ravi River and he found unique pottery, tools and seals. He found the ‘dancing girl’ and many other important artefacts.
Mohenjodaro Discovery
Shortly after, Rakhaldas Banerji discovered the mound of the dead in Mohenjo-Daro in the Sindh district. He found similar artefacts which suggested a common, large and advanced urban society in Indus Valley Civilization.
Official Announcement
Sir John Marshall was the then director-general of the Archaeological Survey of India, which was officially announced after the discovery of a new, ancient civilization in the Indus Valley to the world in September 1924.
What are the Important Sites of Indus Valley Civilization?
Indus Valley Civilization important sites are the archaeological remains of sites, such as Harappa, Mohenjodaro, Rakhigari, Dholavira, Kalibangan and Banawali. Let’s take a look at the important sites of Indus Valley Civilization: -
- Harappa: It is in the present-day Punjab province of Pakistan, and was the first site to be discovered, which had granaries, fortified walls and an early city layout.
- Mohenjo-daro: It is in present day Sindh province of Pakistan, which is the largest city known for the Great Bath, advanced drainage systems and the Bronze Dancing Girl.
- Rakhigari: Rakhigari is also a major site of the Indus Valley Civilization by area, with evidence of planned houses and jewellery.
- Lothal: Lothal is in present-day Gujarat and is famous for having the world’s earliest known dockyard, indicating active maritime trade.
- Dholavira: Dholavira is in present-day Gujarat and is known for advanced water management, including giant reservoirs and a unique large signboard.
- Kalibangan: Kalibangan is in present-day Rajasthan, and it has evidence of the earliest ploughed field and fire altars.
- Chanhudaro: Present-day Sindh, known as a manufacturing center with bead-making factories and no citadel.
- Banawali: Present-day Haryana, Evidence of barley, pottery, and a toy plough.
History of Indus Valley Civilization
The Indus Valley Civilization existed between c. 3300-1300 BCE. It had farming villages and pro-urban centers and trade networks.Cities, such as Harappa and Mohenjodaro had highly advanced civic planning. Let’s take a look at the history of Indus Valley Civilization:-
Early Harappan Phase (3300-2600 BCE)
The early Harappan phase was characterized by the growth of farming villages into proto-urban centers, the establishment of trade networks and the early use of the Indus Valley script, whose evidence can be found in seals.
Mature Harappan Phase (2600-1900 BCE)
From the year 2600 to 1900 was considered the golden period for Indus valley civilization as it led to massive urbanisation. Great cities like Harappa and Mohenjo-daro flourished with highly advanced civic planning.
Late Harappan Phase (1900-1300)
Eventually, Indus Valley Civilization saw a massive decline due to the breakdown of the urban system and population migration toward the east and south. Pottery styles shifted from classic mature Harappan to Black Red Ware.
Key Features of Indus Valley Civilization
The Indus Valley Civilization is renowned for its advanced urban planning, unmatched sanitation and drainage, trading networks and impeccable craftsmanship. Let’s take a look at the key features of Indus Valley Civilization:-
1. Advanced Urban Planning
Indus Valley Civilization cities were meticulously planned on a grid iron pattern with streets cutting each other at right angles. They used baked and sun-dried bricks of a precise, uniform ratio, which is 4:2:1 across all cities.
2. Unmatched Sanitation and Drainage
The Indus Valley Civilization covered drainage that ran along every main street and was equipped with regular inspection traps and soak pits for clearing debris. Almost every house had its own bathing area and toilet connected to the main street drains.
3. Art and Craftsmanship
Thousands of square seals have been found, which include masterfully carved animals such as the famous humped bull and unicorn and pictographic script. Famous masterpieces include the bronze statue of the Dancing Girl and the bust of the Bearded Priest. They also produced high-quality red and black painted pottery with geometric designs.
4. Trade and Economy
The people of Indus valley civilization used a highly accurate binary and decimal system of weights made of chert stones. The city of Lothal featured the world's earliest known artificial ports in India, which connected the civilization to a huge maritime trade network that even reached Mesopotamia.
5. Social and Religious Life
Archaeologists have found very few weapons of war and suggested a highly peaceful, trade-oriented society. Seals suggest they worshipped a Shiva figure known as Pashupati, a Mother Goddess, sacred trees and animals.
Conclusion
The Indus Valley Civilization is one of the most important civilisations in the world due to its surprisingly advanced urban planning, amazing artefacts, perfect sanitation systems and marvellous creations, such as the Great Bath, mound of the dead and technology such as making bricks and metallurgy. The Indus valley civilization had unmatched sanitation, trade networks, craftsmanship and advanced urban planning. Key excavations include the stone artefacts, artificial dockyard, Pashupati Seal, fire altars and the Bearded Priest figure.