- The discovery of the Harappan civilisation published in 1924 revealed the existence of an advanced, Bronze Age civilisation in the Indus Valley.
- This discovery marked a pivotal moment in South Asian history, uncovering a previously unknown civilisation with technological and cultural achievements comparable to ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.
- The civilisation was initially called the “Indus Valley Civilization.”
- Evolution and Expanse of Civilisation:
- The civilization is divided into three phases: early (3200-2600 BC), mature (2600-1900 BC), and late (1900-1500 BC).
- It spanned 1.5 million square kilometres, covering parts of India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
- Major sites include Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Rakhigarhi, Dholavira, and Ganweriwala.
- Features:
- The Harappan civilization excelled in urban planning, water management, and the construction of fortified cities.
- They built sophisticated drainage systems, warehouses, and seafaring boats.
- Their craftsmanship included bronze and copper artefacts, beads, painted pottery, and intricate seals with animal motifs and inscriptions.
- The civilization featured a standard script, sophisticated lapidary techniques, and standard brick sizes.
- They practised a combination of binary and decimal systems for weights and measures.
- The Harappans had maritime trade connections with West Asia as early as 3000 BC.
Dig Deeper: Read about various recent discoveries of skeletons and their genetic study at Rakhigarhi.
