{"id":4761,"date":"2021-02-11T17:33:39","date_gmt":"2021-02-11T12:03:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/?page_id=4761"},"modified":"2024-04-19T12:51:09","modified_gmt":"2024-04-19T07:21:09","password":"","slug":"harappan-civilization-indus-valley-civilization","status":"publish","type":"docs","link":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/docs\/harappan-civilization-indus-valley-civilization","title":{"rendered":"Indus Valley Civilization: Important Dates, Sites &#038; Decline of IVC"},"content":{"rendered":"<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%; background-color: #ff5e00;\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff; font-size: 18pt;\"><b>What is Harappan Civilization?<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Harappan was first excavated in <\/span><b>1921 by Dayaram Sahni<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Indus Valley Civilization was larger than ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia civilisations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Northernmost site \u00e0<\/span><b>Manda <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Jammu-Kashmir), Southernmost site \u00e0<\/span><b>Daimabad <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Maharashtra), Easternmost site \u00e0 <\/span><b>Alamgirpur<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (Uttar Pradesh), Western-most site \u00e0 <\/span><b>Sutkagendor <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Pakistan-Iran border)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; background-color: #e9ebe8; border-color: #000000;\"><b>IMPORTANT FEATURES of Indus Valley Civilization:<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; background-color: #e9ebe8; border-color: #000000;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Systematic town-planning on the lines of \u2018grid system\u2019<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use of burnt bricks in construction.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Underground drainage system.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Own characteristic pottery, seals and script.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fortified citadel (except Chanhudaro).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"> <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Enroll now for UPSC Online Course<\/a><\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%; background-color: #ff5e00;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; color: #ffffff;\"><b>PHASES OF Indus Valley Civilization:<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table style=\"width: 100.274%; height: 180px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 180px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 180px; width: 100%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Early Harappan Phase From<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 3300 to 2600 BCE\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Mature Harappan Phase From<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 2600 to 1900 BCE<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Late Harappan Phase From<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 1900 to 1300 BCE<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color: #ff5e00; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff; font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Major Site of Indus Valley Civilization<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #ff5e00; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff; font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Discovery within the Indus Valley Civilization<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><b>Harappa<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Ravi)<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Granaries<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">,<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Red sandstone Male torso, Stone symbols of Lingam and Yoni, Painted pottery, Mother Goddess, Dice<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><b>Mohenjodaro<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Discovered by R D Banerjee in 1922. Largest site of Indus civilization, Post cremation burial, Great Granary, Great Bath (largest building of civilization), Pasupathi seal, Bronze dancing girl.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><b>Chanhudaro<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Indus)<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Discovered by N G Mazumdar in 1931. Inkpot, Lipstick, Metal workers, Shell-ornament makers and bead makers shop, dog\u2019s paw imprint on brick, Terracotta model of bullock cart, Bronze toy cart.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><b>Lothal<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Bhogava)<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Discovered by S Rao in 1953. Important naval trade site, Cremation site, Dockyard, Granaries, Rice husk, Double burial (male female together)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><b>Dholavira<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Luni)<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Discovered by R Bisht in 1985. Unique water harnessing system and its storm water drainage system, only site divided in 3 parts, Megalithic stone circle.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><b>Surkotada<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Gujrat)<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Discovered \u2013 S Joshi (1964). Only site with horse remains, Oval grave, Pot burials, Soldiers sign on potsherd<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><b>Kalibangan<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Ghaggar)<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Discovered \u2013 A Ghosh. Bangle factory, Ploughed field surface, Camel bones, Fire altars.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Enroll now for UPSC Online Classes <\/strong><\/a>\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center; background-color: #ff5e00; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; color: #ffffff;\"><b>Geographical Expansion of Indus Valley Civilization<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center; background-color: #ff5e00; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; color: #ffffff;\"><b>Locations of the Indus Valley Civilization<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><b>HARYANA (INDIA)<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Banawali (Ghaggar):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Oval shaped settlement, Lack of systematic drainage system, Barley grains, Lapis Lazuli, Fire altars, Only city with Radial streets.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Rakhigarhi (Ghaggar):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Largest Indian site of Indus valley civilization. Granary, cemetery, drains, terracotta bricks<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Bhagwanpura<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><b>PUNJAB (INDIA)<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Ropar (Sutlej):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Dog buried with human oval pit burials, copper axe, first site to be excavated after independence<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><b>UTTAR PRADESH (INDIA)<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Alamgirpur (Yamuna):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Broken copper blade, ceramic items and impression of cloth on a trough.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Manpur, Bargaon, Hulas, Sanauli<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><b>MAHARASHTRA (INDIA)<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Daimabad (Pravara):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Bronze images (charioteer with chariot, ox, elephant and rhinoceros)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Enroll now for UPSC Online Coaching<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color: #ff5e00; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; color: #ffffff;\"><b>Overview of the Indus Valley Civilization<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #ff5e00; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; color: #ffffff;\"><b>Key Characteristics of the Indus Valley Civilization<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><b>TOWN PLANNING AND STRUCTURES<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The towns were in a <\/span><b>rectangular grid pattern<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with roads at <\/span><b>right<\/b> <b>angles<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Used <\/span><b>burnt mud bricks <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">joined with <\/span><b>gypsum mortar <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(contemporary Egypt dried bricks were used).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The city was <\/span><b>divided in two parts<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the city on raised platform, Known as <\/span><b>Upper<\/b> <b>citadel<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#038; the lower town known as <\/span><b>lower citadel<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (working class quarters)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most buildings have private wells and properly ventilated bathrooms.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Do not have large monumental structures such as temples or palaces<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for rulers unlike Egyptian and Mesopotamian Civilisation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Advanced drainage<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> system.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><b>AGRICULTURE<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Main crops: Two types of <\/span><b>Wheat and Barley. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Evidence of cultivation of <\/span><b>rice in Lothal and Rangpur (Gujarat) only<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Other crops: Dates, mustard, sesamum, cotton, rai, peas etc.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>First to produce cotton in the world so Greeks called them Sindon.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Used animal drawn wooden plough, and stone sickles.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gabarbands or nalas enclosed by dams found but <\/span><b>channel or canal irrigation was probably not practised<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Produced sufficient food grains and cereals were received as taxes from peasants and stored in granaries for wages and emergencies same as Mesopotamia.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><b>DOMESTICATION OF ANIMALS<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oxen, buffaloes, goats, sheep, and pigs, dogs, cats, asses and camels were domesticated. <\/span><b>Humped bulls<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> were favoured by the Harappans.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Not horse centered but evidence in Surkotada, Mohenjo Daro and Lothal.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Lion was not known. <\/span><b>Elephants and Rhinoceros (Amari) <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">were well known.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><b><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\/science-and-technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">TECHNOLOGY<\/a> AND CRAFT<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is known as the <\/span><b>first urbanization in India.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Along with stone, but were well acquainted with <\/span><b>bronze<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (occasionally mixed arsenic with copper instead of tin). As <\/span><b>neither tin nor copper<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was easily available, bronze tools do not abound in the region.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Iron was not known<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to the people.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Important crafts<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: spinning (Spindle whorls), bricklaying, boat-making, seal making, terracotta manufacturing (potter\u2019s wheel), goldsmiths, bead making.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They were <\/span><b>aware of the use of the wheel.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><b>TRADE AND COMMERCE<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trade importance supported by <\/span><b>Granaries, seals, a uniform script, and regulated weights and measures.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Engages in <\/span><b>inter-regional as well as foreign trade<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Sumerian texts refer trade relation with Meluha ie. ancient name given to Indus region &#038; mentions 2 intermediate trading stations- <\/span><b>Dilmun (Bahrain) &#038; Makan (Makran coast)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Used <\/span><b>boats<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>bullock-carts<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for transportation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Carried <\/span><b>exchanges through a barter system<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>IMPORT: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gold, Silver, Copper, Tin, Jade, Steatite<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>EXPORTS<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Agricultural products, cotton goods, terracotta figurines, beads from Chanhudaro, conch-shell from Lothal, ivory products, copper.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><b>SOCIAL ORGANIZATION<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Hierarchy in urban habitation. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Merchants and priests were important class of this period<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Harappans were <\/span><b>fashion conscious<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Different hairstyles and wearing a beard were popular. The use of <\/span><b>cosmetics<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was common (Cinnabar, lipstick and collyrium)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Necklaces, filets, armlets and finger rings were <\/span><b>worn by both men and women<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> but bangles, girdles, anklets, ear-rings were worn by women only.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Beads<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> were made from gold, copper, bronze, cornelian, quartz, steatite, lapis lazuli etc \u2013 naturalistic animal models as pin-heads and beads.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fishing, hunting and bull fighting were pastimes.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\/indian-polity-udaan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>POLITY<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Central authority<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> may have contributed to uniform culture.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No clear idea of an organized force or standing army.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Priests did not rule in Harappa<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as they did in the cities of lower Mesopotamia but were <\/span><b>possibly ruled by a class of merchants<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><b>RELIGIOUS PRACTICES<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seal-Male deity <\/span><b>Pashupati Mahadeva (proto-siva<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)-three-horned heads, and is represented in the sitting posture of a yogi, with one leg placed above the other surrounded by an <\/span><b>elephant, a tiger, a rhinoceros<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and below his throne there is a <\/span><b>buffalo<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and at his feet <\/span><b>two deer<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prevalence of the <\/span><b>Phallus (lingam) and Yoni<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> worship. The <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rig Veda <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">speaks of non-Aryan people who were phallus worshippers.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chief female deity was <\/span><b>mother Goddess<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. They also worshiped fire.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The people of the Indus region also <\/span><b>worshipped trees<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (ex: pipal) <\/span><b>and animals<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (unicorn, humped bull etc).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Harappans <\/span><b>believed in ghosts and evil forces<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and, therefore, they used amulets against them.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><b>SCRIPT<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Oldest script<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in Indian subcontinent.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Pictographic script <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(yet to be deciphered).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Writing was <\/span><b>boustrophedon<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> -writing in right to left in one line &#038; then left to right in the next line.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><b>POTTERY<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Plain pottery is more common<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> than painted ware and is generally of red clay, and is uniformly sturdy and well baked.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The painted pottery is also known as <\/span><b>Red and Black Pottery <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">as it used red colour to paint the background and glossy black paint was used to draw designs and figures on the red background. Trees, birds, animal figures and geometrical patterns were the recurring themes of the paintings.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most of the pottery is <\/span><b>wheel-made<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rare <\/span><b>polychrome pottery<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has also been found (geometric patterns in red, black, green, rarely white and yellow).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><b>SEALS AND SEALINGS<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most of the seals are <\/span><b>square plaque<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2\u00d72 square inches) made mostly from <\/span><b>Steatite.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seals had an animal (no Cow) <\/span><b>or human figure<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on one side and an <\/span><b>inscription<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on the opposite side or inscriptions on both the sides.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seals were primarily used for<\/span><b> commercial purposes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">,<\/span><b> as<\/b> <b>amulets<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, as form of identification, for<\/span><b> educational purposes <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">as well.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seals with symbols similar to <\/span><b>\u2018Swastika\u2019<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> design have also been found.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Types \u2013 Square OR Rectangular.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><b>ART<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><b>BRONZE CASTING:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Practiced on a wide scale using the <\/span><b>\u2018lost wax\u2019 technique or Cire Perdue.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They mainly consist of human and animal figures. Example: <\/span><b>\u2018Dancing Girl\u2019. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She stands in a <\/span><b>\u2018tribhanga\u2019<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> dancing posture.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>STONE STATUES:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Bearded man<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2013 (found in Mohenjo-daro and made of Steatite), interpreted as a priest<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Red sandstone<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 figure of a male torso (found in Harappa and made of Red sandstone).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><b>TERRACOTTA FIGURES<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Found are less in number and crude in shape and form. Examples:<\/span><b> Mother Goddess<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, mask of horned deity, toys, etc<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><b>DECLINE<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e9ebe8; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After 2000 BC Indus Valley Civilization declined &#038; gradually faded away.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Possible reasons \u2013 declined soil fertility, depression in land, Aryans invasion, decline of trade, Floods, Earthquake etc.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most acceptable reason is <\/span><b>ecological imbalance.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Also Read:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\/history-of-the-vedic-period\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-sheets-root=\"1\" data-sheets-value=\"{\"1\":2,\"2\":\"Vedic Period: History Notes for UPSC &#038; Govt. Exams\"}\" data-sheets-userformat=\"{\"2\":1021,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"5\":{\"1\":[{\"1\":2,\"2\":0,\"5\":{\"1\":2,\"2\":0}},{\"1\":0,\"2\":0,\"3\":3},{\"1\":1,\"2\":0,\"4\":1}]},\"6\":{\"1\":[{\"1\":2,\"2\":0,\"5\":{\"1\":2,\"2\":0}},{\"1\":0,\"2\":0,\"3\":3},{\"1\":1,\"2\":0,\"4\":1}]},\"7\":{\"1\":[{\"1\":2,\"2\":0,\"5\":{\"1\":2,\"2\":0}},{\"1\":0,\"2\":0,\"3\":3},{\"1\":1,\"2\":0,\"4\":1}]},\"8\":{\"1\":[{\"1\":2,\"2\":0,\"5\":{\"1\":2,\"2\":0}},{\"1\":0,\"2\":0,\"3\":3},{\"1\":1,\"2\":0,\"4\":1}]},\"9\":1,\"10\":1,\"11\":4,\"12\":0}\">Vedic Period: History Notes for UPSC &#038; Govt. Exams<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Indus Valley Civilization for UPSC IAS Exam &#8211; Get details on important events during the Indus Valley Civilization. Learn about the decline of IVC.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"footnotes":""},"doc_category":[133],"doc_tag":[4807],"acf":[],"year_month":"2026-04","word_count":1370,"total_views":"45731","reactions":{"happy":"65","normal":"11","sad":"15"},"author_info":{"name":"bks_editor","author_nicename":"bks_editor","author_url":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/author\/bks_editor"},"doc_category_info":[{"term_name":"Ancient Indian History","term_url":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/docs-category\/ancient-indian-history"}],"doc_tag_info":[{"term_name":"Harappan Civilization (Indus Valley Civilization)","term_url":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/docs-tag\/harappan-civilization-indus-valley-civilization"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/docs\/4761"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/docs"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/docs"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4761"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/docs\/4761\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":102727,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/docs\/4761\/revisions\/102727"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4761"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"doc_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/doc_category?post=4761"},{"taxonomy":"doc_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/doc_tag?post=4761"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}