The First Civilisation: Indus Valley (Discovery & Introduction)

Saving An Old Building (Indus context)

When we think about preserving history, we often focus on saving old buildings or monuments. These structures from the past are tangible links to the people and events that came before us. In the context of the Indus Valley Civilisation, the remains of its cities and buildings are the primary way we understand this ancient civilisation, as its written script has not been deciphered.

The archaeological sites of the Indus Valley Civilisation (also known as the Harappan Civilisation) contain the ruins of cities, houses, public buildings, and infrastructure. These include sites like Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Dholavira, and Lothal. These old 'buildings' are not just structures; they are historical sources that tell us about the urban planning, architecture, technology, and daily life of the people who built and lived in them thousands of years ago.

The efforts of archaeologists to excavate, study, and preserve these sites are essential for 'saving' the history embedded within these old buildings and structures of the Indus Valley Civilisation.

The Story Of Harappa

The city of Harappa holds a special place in the story of the Indus Valley Civilisation. It was the first site of this civilisation to be discovered and excavated, and it gave its name to the entire civilisation (Harappan Civilisation).

Early Encounters with Harappa:

• The site of Harappa is located in present-day Pakistan.
• Even before archaeologists recognised its historical significance, people were aware of the ancient mounds at Harappa.
• Around 150 years ago, when railway lines were being laid in the Punjab region, engineers found ready-made, good-quality bricks at the site of Harappa.
• Thousands of these bricks were taken from the ancient mounds by the railway engineers to build railway lines, without understanding that they were destroying the remains of an ancient city.

Archaeological Discovery:

• Later, in the mid-19th century, Alexander Cunningham, the first Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), visited the site and found some artifacts, including a seal. However, as discussed earlier, he was unable to fully understand the antiquity and importance of the site.
• It was only in the early 20th century, through systematic excavations led by archaeologists like Daya Ram Sahni, R.D. Banerji, and John Marshall, that the significance of Harappa and other sites like Mohenjo-daro was recognised.
• The discovery of similar seals and artifacts at multiple sites indicated that they belonged to a vast and ancient civilisation.

The story of Harappa highlights how important archaeological context is. The same ancient bricks that were just building material for railway engineers held the key to uncovering a lost civilisation for archaeologists. The destruction of parts of the site for railway construction also serves as a reminder of the importance of archaeological preservation.

What Was Special About These Cities?

The cities of the Indus Valley Civilisation, like Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, were remarkably well-planned and developed urban centres for their time. They had several special features that indicate a high level of organisation and sophistication.

Special Features of Harappan Cities:

1. Planned Layout:
   • Cities were often divided into two parts:
     • Citadel: A smaller, higher part, usually located to the west. Structures on the citadel were probably used for special public purposes (e.g., public baths, administrative buildings).
     • Lower Town: A larger, lower part, usually located to the east. This was the residential area where common people lived.
   • Walls were built around both the citadel and the lower town, often made of baked bricks. The bricks were of standard sizes.
2. Grid System of Streets and Drains:
   • Streets were laid out in a grid pattern, running straight and cutting each other at right angles.
   • Houses were built along the streets.
   • Cities had well-planned drainage systems. Drains were often covered and ran along the streets. Drains from houses were connected to the street drains. This indicates a concern for hygiene and sanitation.
3. Houses:
   • Houses were usually one or two storeys high.
   • Rooms were built around a courtyard.
   • Most houses had a separate bathing area and some had wells to supply water.
4. Use of Baked Bricks: The extensive use of baked bricks in construction is a notable feature. Baked bricks were durable and stronger than sun-dried bricks, contributing to the longevity of the structures.

*(Image shows a plan of a Harappan city like Mohenjo-daro or Harappa, illustrating the Citadel and Lower Town divisions, grid pattern of streets, and the network of drains)*

Special Buildings:

• The Great Bath (at Mohenjo-daro): A large rectangular tank in the citadel area. It was lined with baked bricks and covered with a layer of natural tar (bitumen) to prevent water leakage. Steps led down to the tank from two sides. Rooms were built around it. It was probably used for special ritualistic bathing on important occasions.
• Granaries: Large structures found in the citadel area of some cities (e.g., Mohenjo-daro, Harappa). They were likely used for storing grains, indicating surplus agricultural production and possibly centralised control over resources.

*(Image shows a photograph of the Great Bath ruins at Mohenjo-daro)*

The sophisticated urban planning, advanced drainage system, and monumental public buildings distinguish the Harappan cities and reflect a well-organised society with considerable engineering skills and a possible form of municipal administration.

Elsewhere (Mesopotamia comparison likely)

To understand the significance of the Indus Valley Civilisation, historians often compare it with other contemporary ancient civilisations that flourished in different parts of the world. The civilisation of Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) is a key comparison point, as trade existed between the two regions.

Comparing Indus Valley with Mesopotamia:

• Location: Mesopotamia flourished in the river valleys of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The Indus Valley Civilisation flourished in the Indus river valley and its tributaries. Both developed around fertile river systems.
• Period: Both were ancient urban civilisations that existed roughly around the same time (mid-3rd millennium BCE).
• Urbanisation: Both developed cities. However, Harappan cities show a much higher degree of planned layout with a grid system and organised drainage compared to Mesopotamian cities, which were often more organically grown.
• Writing: Both civilisations developed writing systems. Mesopotamian script (cuneiform) has been deciphered, providing extensive written records. The Harappan script remains undeciphered, limiting our direct textual understanding.
• State and administration: Our understanding of the political organisation of the Harappan civilisation is limited due to the undeciphered script. Mesopotamian city-states had kings, written laws (e.g., Code of Hammurabi), and detailed administrative records.
• Trade: There is evidence of trade between the Indus Valley and Mesopotamia. Harappan seals have been found in Mesopotamian cities, and Mesopotamian texts mention trade with a land called 'Meluhha', which is believed to be the Indus region.
• Seals: Both civilisations used seals, but their purposes and designs differed. Harappan seals are typically square with animal motifs and script. Mesopotamian seals were often cylindrical.

*(Image shows examples of artefacts from both civilisations placed side-by-side for comparison, like Harappan seals and Mesopotamian seals or tablets)*

Comparing the Indus Valley Civilisation with Mesopotamia helps highlight the unique features of the Harappan civilisation, such as its advanced urban planning and sanitation, and also reveals connections between these ancient cultures through trade.

Beginnings (Harappan)

The Harappan Civilisation did not appear suddenly. It developed gradually from earlier, smaller settlements and agricultural communities in the Indus region. The beginnings of the civilisation can be traced back to earlier periods of human activity in the area.

Pre-Harappan and Early Harappan Phases:

• Archaeological evidence suggests that before the mature urban phase of the Harappan Civilisation (roughly 2600 BCE - 1900 BCE), there were earlier stages of development in the region.
• These include the Neolithic cultures (like Mehrgarh, around 8000 years ago) that showed evidence of early farming and settled village life.
• Following the Neolithic, there was an Early Harappan phase (around 3500 BCE - 2600 BCE). In this phase, people lived in larger villages, started developing mud-brick houses, used pottery, and engaged in some regional trade. There is evidence of early fortifications at some sites.
• Some sites show a continuity of settlement from the Early Harappan to the Mature Harappan phase, indicating a gradual transition.

Emergence of Urbanisation:

• The transition to the Mature Harappan phase (Urban phase) involved the growth of large, planned cities like Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, and others.
• This urbanisation was associated with increased agricultural surplus, growth of crafts and trade, and the development of a more complex social and possibly political organisation.
• The use of standardisation (e.g., standard sizes of bricks, weights and measures) is a notable feature of the Mature Harappan period, suggesting some form of central authority or strong cultural unity across the vast region.

The beginnings of the Harappan civilisation lie in the earlier adaptations and developments of human communities in the Indus region, gradually building towards the highly organised urban culture of the Mature Harappan period.