The Indus Valley Civilization, also known as Harappan Civilization , is one of the most fascinating and advance ancient civilization in human history. The Indus Valley Civilization emerged around 3300 BCE in the fertile plain of the Indus river. Indus Valley Civilization, often referred as the Harappan Civilization after one of its key archeological sites, flourished in the north western region of the Indian subcontinent. It spanned over a 1.25 million square kilometers, making it one of the largest ancient civilizations, alongside Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt.
Time Period:
The Indus Valley Civilization or Harappan Civilization did not appear sudden. Indus Valley Civilization developed gradually from earlier neolithic village culture. As numerous art craft made of copper based alloy discovered in Indus valley Civilization, So Indus Valley Civilization classified as “Bronze Age Civilization”. Major of historian divided the whole time period of Indus Valley Civilization into three phase –
- Early or Pre-Harappan phase (3200 BCE – 2600 BCE)
- Mature Harappan phase (2600 BCE – 1900 BCE)
- Later Harappan phase (1900 BCE – 1300 BCE)
Important Sites of Indus Valley Civilization
1. Harappa
Excavated By :
Dayaram Sahini in the year of 1921
`Location :
On the bank of ‘Ravi’ river in Montagomery district of Punjab (Pakistan)
Important Findings :
- Evidence of coffin burial.
- Evidence of six large Granaries
- Evidence of trade interaction with Mesopotamia.
2. Mohenjo Daro (Mound of the Dead) :
Excavated By :
R. D. Banerjee in the year of 1922
Location:
On the bank of ‘Indus’ river, Larkana district of Punjab in Pakistan.
Important Findings:
- Seal of Pashupati
- Great Bath
- Large granary
- A dancing girl statue made of Bronze. Known as ‘Bronze Dancing Girl’
- Steatite statue of beard man.
3. Lothal:
Excavated By:
S. R. Rao in the year of 1957
Location:
On the bank of Bhogava and Sabarmati river confluence in Gujrat (India).
Important Findings:
- Evidence of doubled burial ( male and female together.)
- Dockyard
- Remains of Rice husks
- Fire altars
- Evidence of Bead making factory
4. Kalibangan (Black Bangles):
Excavated By:
Amlanand Ghosh in the year of 1953.
Location:
On the bank of river Ghaggar in Rajasthan ( Hanumangarh District ), India.
Important Findings:
- Decorative bricks
- Ploughed field
- Bones of Camel
- Wooden Plough
5. Chanhu daro:
Excavated by:
N. G. Mazumdar in the year of 1931.
Location:
On the bank of Indus river in Sindh (Pakistan).
Important Findings:
- Evidence of bead making factory
- Only Indus Valley Civilization without a Citadel.
- Evidence of seal, beads and ornaments.
6. Suktagendor:
Excavated by:
A. Stein and George Dales in the year of 1929.
Location:
On the bank of Dasht river in southwestern Balochistan province in Pakistan.
Important Findings:
- Evidence of trade point between Harappa and Babylon.
- Evidence of copper axe.
- Evidence of ash filled pot.
7. Dholavira:
Excavated by:
J.P. Joshi in the year of 1968
Location:
On the bank of Luni river in Gujrat (India)
Important Findings:
- Evidence of Water Reservoir.
- Evidence of water harvesting systems.
- Evidence of Dams.
8. Surkotada:
Excavated by:
J.P. Joshi in the year of 1964.
Location:
On the bank of Sabarmati river in Gujrat, India.
Important Findings:
- Bones of Horses.
- Evidence of graveyard.
9. Banawali:
Excavated by:
R.S. Bist in the year of 1973-1974.
Location:
On the bank of Rangoi river in Haryana, India
Important Findings:
- Clay model of Plough.
- Evidence of both pre-Harappan and Harappan culture.
- Evidence of Fire Alters.
10. Kot-Diji:
Excavated by:
Fazal Ahmad Khan in the year of 1955.
Location:
On the bank of Sindh river in Sindh province, Pakistan.
Important Findings:
- Evidence of stone made house.
- Evidence of Pre-Harappan culture.
11. Amri:
Excavated by:
N.G. Majumdar in the year of 1929.
Location:
On the bank of Indus river in Sindh province, Pakistan.
Important Findings:
- Remains of Rhinoceros.
- Evidence of Pre-Harappan settlement.
13. Rakhigarhi:
Excavated by:
Amarendra Nath.
Location:
On the plain of Ghaggar river in Haryana, India.
Important Findings:
- Evidence of all three phase Harappan culture.
- Largest Indus Valley Civilization site.
- Statue of a female figure with similar pose of ‘Bronze Dancing Girl’.
Some Other Fact:
- Easternmost Indus Valley Civilization Sites – Alamgirpur in Uttar Pradesh, India.
- Westernmost Indus Valley Civilization Sites – Suktagendor in Baluchistan.
- Southernmost Indus Valley Civilization Sites – Daimabad in Maharashtra, India.
- Northernmost Indus Valley Civilization Sites – Manda in Jammu, India.
- Largest Indus Valley Civilization Sites – Rakhigarhi in Haryana, India.