Bricks, Beads and Bones
Red fonts – important topics / details
Yellow highlights – PYQs / important questions
• The Harappan seal
o The most distinctive artefact of the Harappan or Indus valley
civilisation.
o Made of steatite
o Often contain animal motifs and signs from a script that remains
undeciphered.
1. Beginnings
• There were several archaeological cultures in the region prior to the
Mature Harappan.
o Settlements were generally small, and there were virtually no
large buildings.
• There was a break between the Early Harappan and the Harappan
civilisation
o Evident from large-scale burning at some sites and abandonment
of certain settlements.
2. Subsistence Strategies
Q. How have historians provided new insight into the subsistence
strategies of the Harappan culture?
• The Harappans ate a wide range of plant and animal products, including
fish.
, • Archaeologists have been able to reconstruct dietary practices from
finds of charred grains and seeds.
o These are studied by archaeo-botanists, who are specialists in
ancient plant remains.
o Grains found at Harappan sites - wheat, barley, lentil, chickpea
and sesame.
o Millets are found from sites in Gujarat.
o Finds of rice are relatively rare.
• Animal bones found at Harappan sites - cattle, sheep, goat, buffalo and
pig.
o Studies done by archaeo-zoologists or zoo-archaeologists indicate
that these animals were domesticated.
o Bones of wild species such as boar, deer and gharial are also
found.
• Bones of fish and fowl are also found.
2.1 Agricultural technologies
• Bull was known (representations on seals and terracotta sculpture).
o Oxen, possibly, were used for ploughing.
• Terracotta models of the plough have been found at sites in Cholistan
and at Banawali (Haryana).
• Evidence of a ploughed field have been found at Kalibangan (Rajasthan).
o The field had two sets of furrows at right angles to each other,
suggesting that two different crops were grown together.
• Irrigation in the civilisation –
o Traces of canals have been found at the Harappan site of
Shortughai in Afghanistan, but not in Punjab or Sind.
o It is likely that water drawn from wells was used for irrigation.
o Water reservoirs found in Dholavira (Gujarat) may have been used
to store water for agriculture.
3. Mohenjodaro: A planned urban centre
Q. Describe the distinctive features of Mohenjodaro.
• Mohenjodaro is the most well-known site. (However, the first site to be
discovered was Harappa).
Red fonts – important topics / details
Yellow highlights – PYQs / important questions
• The Harappan seal
o The most distinctive artefact of the Harappan or Indus valley
civilisation.
o Made of steatite
o Often contain animal motifs and signs from a script that remains
undeciphered.
1. Beginnings
• There were several archaeological cultures in the region prior to the
Mature Harappan.
o Settlements were generally small, and there were virtually no
large buildings.
• There was a break between the Early Harappan and the Harappan
civilisation
o Evident from large-scale burning at some sites and abandonment
of certain settlements.
2. Subsistence Strategies
Q. How have historians provided new insight into the subsistence
strategies of the Harappan culture?
• The Harappans ate a wide range of plant and animal products, including
fish.
, • Archaeologists have been able to reconstruct dietary practices from
finds of charred grains and seeds.
o These are studied by archaeo-botanists, who are specialists in
ancient plant remains.
o Grains found at Harappan sites - wheat, barley, lentil, chickpea
and sesame.
o Millets are found from sites in Gujarat.
o Finds of rice are relatively rare.
• Animal bones found at Harappan sites - cattle, sheep, goat, buffalo and
pig.
o Studies done by archaeo-zoologists or zoo-archaeologists indicate
that these animals were domesticated.
o Bones of wild species such as boar, deer and gharial are also
found.
• Bones of fish and fowl are also found.
2.1 Agricultural technologies
• Bull was known (representations on seals and terracotta sculpture).
o Oxen, possibly, were used for ploughing.
• Terracotta models of the plough have been found at sites in Cholistan
and at Banawali (Haryana).
• Evidence of a ploughed field have been found at Kalibangan (Rajasthan).
o The field had two sets of furrows at right angles to each other,
suggesting that two different crops were grown together.
• Irrigation in the civilisation –
o Traces of canals have been found at the Harappan site of
Shortughai in Afghanistan, but not in Punjab or Sind.
o It is likely that water drawn from wells was used for irrigation.
o Water reservoirs found in Dholavira (Gujarat) may have been used
to store water for agriculture.
3. Mohenjodaro: A planned urban centre
Q. Describe the distinctive features of Mohenjodaro.
• Mohenjodaro is the most well-known site. (However, the first site to be
discovered was Harappa).
