The town planning and structures of the Harappan civilization reveal a remarkable level of urban sophistication. With meticulously planned cities, advanced drainage systems, and sturdy brick structures, Harappan towns exemplify early urban planning and engineering prowess.
Characteristics of Harappan civilization
- Harappan civilization was distinguished by its system of civic planning.
- Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro, Dholavira, Lothal, Surkotada, Kalibangan, Banawali, and Rakhigarhi were the major cities in the Harappan period.
- In most cases, the cities were divided into two parts:
- Lower Part: The common citizenry lived and carried on their professional lives in this part of the city.
- Citadel or Acropolis/Raised Part: This part occupied a smaller area and was frequently situated west of the city. It contained public buildings, granaries, and essential workshops.
Lower Towns: Grid Streets and Standardized Brick Construction
- City planning followed a grid pattern, with streets cutting at right angles.
- Planning also involved laying streets first, then building houses along them.
- The streets were broad, dividing the town into rectangular and square blocks.
- For construction, they used burnt bricks and stones.
- The houses were built of mud bricks and drainages of burnt bricks.
- The bricks were of identical 1: 2: 4 ratio in terms of thickness, width, and length across all Harappan structures.
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- The contemporary buildings in Egypt mainly used dried bricks for construction.
- We find the use of baked bricks in contemporary Mesopotamia, but they were used to a much larger extent in the Harappan cities.
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- The houses had bathrooms paved with burnt bricks and proper drains.
- Houses varied in size, with two or more stories and multiple rooms, but were quite monotonous.
- Many of the houses had a central courtyard with rooms all around.
- The courtyard was the center of the residential building, with rooms on all sides. It was the centre of activities such as cooking and weaving.
- In Kalibangan many houses had wells, often in a room that could be reached from the outside and perhaps used by passers-by.
Drainage System
- Every house was connected to the street drains.
- The main channels were made of bricks set in mortar and were covered with loose bricks or limestone that could be removed for cleaning.
- House drains first emptied into a sump or cesspit into which solid matter settled while wastewater flowed out into the street drains.
- Very long drainage channels were provided at intervals with sumps for cleaning.
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Citadel of Harappan Civilization
- It was constructed on a mud-brick platform and was physically separated from Lower Town through a wall.
- It had important residential structures, possibly occupied by members of the ruling class.
- It contained structures that were used for particular public purposes. These include the Great Bath and the Warehouse (Granary).
The Great Bath (Mohenjo-daro)
- It was meant for some kind of special ritual bath.
- It was a large rectangular tank in a courtyard surrounded by a corridor on all four sides.
- The floor of the bath was made of burnt bricks.
- There were side rooms for changing clothes.
- The bricks were laid watertight with gypsum mortar.
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- Granaries: They constituted an important part of the Harappan sites.
- The Great Granary was the largest building in Mohenjo-daro.
- There were six granaries in the citadel of Harappa.
- Circular brick platforms were evidently meant for threshing grains because wheat and barley have been found in the crevices of the floors.
- At Kalibangan, the southern part of the brick platform may have been used for granaries.
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Conclusion
- The town planning and structures of the Harappan civilization represent a pinnacle of ancient urban development.
- Through their orderly layouts, elaborate infrastructure, and robust architecture, Harappan cities provide valuable insights into early human settlement patterns and technological achievements, leaving a lasting legacy in the annals of history.
April 25, 2024
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