Early Harappan Sites | History Optional for UPSC (Notes) PDF Download

Surkotda

Site: Kutch District, Gujarat:

• Location: On the land route to Lothal.
• Construction Materials: Mud brick and stone rubble used for building.

Antiquities Found:

• Terracotta seal with Harappan pictographic script, but without an animal depiction.
• Beads made of steatite and carnelian.
• Horse-like skeleton discovered.
• Elephant bone also found at the site.

Harappa

• Location: Punjab, Pakistan, on the bank of the Ravi River.
• Phases: Early, mature, and late Harappan phases identified.
• Discovery: First site of the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) to be discovered.
• Urban Culture: Sustained by surplus agricultural production and commerce.
• Trade: Engaged in trade with Sumer in southern Mesopotamia.
• Living Quarters: Differentiated living quarters with flat-roofed brick houses.
• Administrative Centers: Fortified administrative or religious centers present.
• City Planning: Followed grid planning.
• Granaries: Row of six granaries discovered.
• Burials: Only site with evidence of coffin burial, fractional burial, and coffin burial.
• Grave Goods: Found in Cemetery-H of alien people.
• Citadel and Fortified City: Present in the site.
• Artifacts: Seals, stone figurines (including a torso of a naked male and female figure in a dancing pose), and evidence of bronze smelting.

Allhadino

Near to Karachi:

• A small unfortified village site.
• Coastal city.
• Remains of mud brick structure.
• The wells had very small diameter to enable the ground water to rise higher due to hydraulic pressure. It may have been used to irrigate the nearby fields.

Amri

• Harappa is an archaeological site of great historical significance located in Sindh, Pakistan, along the banks of the Indus River.
• It was one of the key urban centers of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization, known for its advanced urban planning, architecture, and trade.
• The site dates back to the Early and Mature Harappan periods, showcasing the evolution of this ancient city over time.

Archaeological Findings:

• The structures found at Harappa were primarily made of mud-brick and stone, reflecting the building techniques of the time.
• Various artefacts have been discovered at the site, including chert blades, stone balls, bone tools, and fragments of copper and bronze. These items provide insight into the tools and materials used by the Harappan people.
• One notable finding is the presence of cellular compartments that were likely used for storing grain, indicating advanced agricultural practices and storage methods.

Pottery:

• The pottery found at Harappa includes wheel-made wares with painted designs, mostly geometric in nature. Some pottery features monochrome or polychrome patterns, showcasing the artistic skills of the Harappan people.

Kot Diji

In Sind, at Amri on the banks of the Indus River:

• Early and Mature Harappan Levels: The site shows evidence from both the early and mature phases of the Harappan culture.
• Settlement Structure: Amri was fortified with a massive wall made of limestone rubble and mud-brick. The settlement included a citadel complex and a lower residential area. House walls were constructed of stone and mud-brick.
• Artefacts Found:. variety of objects made from stone, shell, and bone were found, along with terracotta figurines, including a notable bull figurine. Other artefacts included bangles and beads.
• Pottery: Wheel-made and decorated pottery was discovered, including a short-necked ovoid pot painted with intricate designs such as the ‘horned deity’, pipal leaves, and ‘fish scales’.
• Evidence of Fire at Kot Diji and Gumla:. burnt deposit found between early and mature Harappan levels at these sites suggests a significant fire event.

Mehrgarh

• Neolithic and Calcolithic Periods. This site dates back to the Neolithic and Calcolithic periods, showcasing early human activities.
• Small Farming and Pastoralist Village. Evidence suggests the presence of a small village engaged in farming and herding during ancient times.
• Planned Ancient Farm Villages. The site reflects the planning and organization of ancient farm villages, indicating advanced societal development.
• Mud Brick Houses. Early structures were made of mud bricks, later evolving to sun-dried bricks, showcasing architectural progress.
• Bone Tools. Tools made from bone have been discovered, highlighting the resourcefulness of the inhabitants.
• A-Ceramic Evidence. The presence of a-ceramic material indicates specific cultural practices of the time.
• Precursor to the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC). This site is considered a precursor to the IVC, indicating its significance in the development of urbanization.
• Abandonment and Harappan Urbanization. The site was eventually abandoned as Harappan urbanization took place, marking a shift in settlement patterns.
• Early Evidence of Farming, Herding, and Metallurgy. The site is among the earliest to show evidence of farming (wheat and barley), herding, and metallurgy, indicating advanced agricultural and technological practices.
• Early Cultivation of Cotton. Evidence suggests one of the earliest cultivation of cotton at this site, highlighting agricultural diversity.
• Evidence of Fishing. Fishing activities are also evidenced, showcasing a varied diet and resource utilization.
• Unique Discovery: Dental Surgery and Medicinal Activities. A unique find at the site includes evidence of dental surgery and related medicinal activities, indicating advanced medical knowledge.
• Terracotta Figurines. Figurines made of terracotta have been found, reflecting artistic expression and cultural practices.

Kalibangan

• Location: Banks of the Ghaggar River in Hanumangarh district, Rajasthan.
• Time Period: Both Pre-Harappan and Harappan periods.

Pre-Harappan Features:

• Used copper and produced pottery.
• No writing system present.
• Lacked orderly layout in settlements.
• Used sun-dried bricks for construction.

Harappan Features:

• Discovery of a cemetery and a fortified citadel.
• Lower town was also fortified.
• Use of mud and burnt bricks in construction.
• Grid-pattern town planning observed.
• Burnt bricks used in drains, wells, bathing platforms, and fire-altars.

Other Features and Findings:

• Pottery: Found for household, religious, and burial purposes, including wheel-made red pottery.
• Unique Fire Altars: Indicate the practice of fire worship.
• Ploughed Field: Evidence of agricultural activity.
• Seals: Rectangular and cylindrical seals discovered.
• Terracotta Objects: Bangles, bulls, and other artifacts found.
• Burial Practices: Evidence of pit burial and urn burial.

Rakhigarhi

• Largest site of Indus Valley Civilization (IVC).
• Early and mature Harappan site.
• Mature Harappan phase.
• Planned township with mud-brick and burnt-brick houses.
• Advanced drainage system.
• Pottery includes. Red ware, dish-on-stand, vase, jar, bowl, beaker, perforated jar.
• Ritual Features. Animal sacrificial pit and circular fire altars, indicating a complex ritual system.
• Seals and Inscribed Objects. A cylindrical seal with five Harappan characters and inscribed steatite seals and sealings.
• Other Artifacts. Blades, terracotta and shell bangles, beads of semiprecious stones, copper objects, animal figurines, toy cart, terracotta wheel, bone points.

Banawali

Origin of Harappan Civilization:

• The Harappan civilization originated in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent around 3300 BCE, during the early Bronze Age.
• It developed along the Indus River and its tributaries, taking advantage of the fertile alluvial plains for agriculture.

Geographical Extent:

• At its peak, the Harappan civilization covered a vast area, including present-day Pakistan, northwest India, and parts of eastern Afghanistan.
• Major regions included the Punjab, Sindh, and parts of Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Haryana.

Urban Planning and Architecture:

• The Harappans are known for their advanced urban planning, with cities like Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro featuring well-organized streets, drainage systems, and public baths.
• Buildings were made of mud-brick and, later, burnt brick, with some structures indicating multi-story construction.

Social and Economic Organization:

• Society was likely stratified, with evidence of large, multi-roomed houses indicating wealth and status.
• The economy was based on agriculture, trade, and craft production, with evidence of granaries, storage pits, and workshops.

Decline and Dispersal:

• The decline of the Harappan civilization began around 1900 BCE, possibly due to a combination of climatic changes, river shifts, and overexploitation of resources.
• As urban centers declined, populations dispersed, and the region saw a shift to more localized, smaller-scale settlements.

Mundigak

• Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Harappan site.
• Painted pottery– scared fig leaves, tiger like animal etc.
• Hump bulls, Human figurine, shaft hole axes, terracotta drains etc. found.

Harappan period:

• Palace, temple, city wall.

Kulli, Balakot, Sarai Khola, Gumla, Rana Ghundai, Dholavira

Dholavira: A Remarkable Indus Valley City

• Location: Dholavira is situated in the Kutch district of Gujarat, India.
• City Structure: The city was organized into three distinct parts: a citadel, a middle town, and a lower town.
• Water Management: Dholavira had an advanced water conservation system consisting of channels and reservoirs made of stone.
• Unique Structures: Seven hemispherical constructions were discovered at the site, showcasing the architectural ingenuity of the time.
• Coastal Connectivity: There was a coastal route that linked Lothal and Dholavira to Sutkagan Dor on the Makran coast.

Findings: 

• Painted Black and Red Ware (BRW): This pottery style was found at the site, indicating the artistic practices of the people.
• Stamp Seals: Square stamp seals and seals without Indus script were among the findings, suggesting trade and administrative practices.
• Dholavira Signboard: One of the most significant discoveries was a signboard containing ten letters of the Indus script. This inscription is the longest known in the Indus script and provides valuable insights into the writing system of the time.

Mohenjodaro

Indus Valley Civilization: Dholavira:

• Location: Sindh, Pakistan, on the bank of the Indus River.
• Period: Early Harappan and Mature Harappan phases.
• Recognition: UNESCO World Heritage site.
• City Layout: Divided into two parts - the Citadel and the Lower City.

Citadel Features:

• Great Bath
• Large residential structure
• Great Granary
• Two halls of assembly

Lower Town Features:

• Courtyard houses
• Grid pattern layout
• Large central well

House Features:

• Smaller wells
• Small bathrooms
• Drains and sanitation systems
• Brick stairs indicating upper stories
• Challenges: Suffered from floods due to the encroaching Indus River and tectonic uplifts.

Artefacts Found:

• Bronze dancing girl
• Stone sculptures of seated male figures and Priest King
• Pashupati seal interpreted as proto-Shiva
• Seven-stranded necklace
• Beads made of ivory, lapis, carnelian, and gold
• Baked-brick city structures

Bhirrana
Oldest Harappan site (as per ASI):

• The oldest Harappan site, according to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), is Harappa. This site is located in the Punjab region of Pakistan.
• Harappa is one of the key sites of the Indus Valley Civilization, which flourished around 2500 BCE.
• The ASI's designation of Harappa as the oldest site highlights its significance in understanding the early urban planning and culture of the Harappan people.

Nal