Indus Valley Civilization: Theory Notes pinnacle

 Indus Valley Civilization: Theory Notes (from PDF OCR)

**I. Key Sites and Discoveries**

*   **Banawali (Haryana, India):**
    *   Located in Fatehabad district, Haryana.
    *   Excavated by Dr. R.S. Bisht.
    *   Revealed three-fold cultural sequence:
        *   Pre-Harappan (Early Harappan)
        *   Harappan
        *   Bara (Post-Harappan)
    *   Features:
        *   Citadel and Lower Town (both fortified).
        *   Suitable for observing Harappan architecture.

*   **Harappa (Punjab, Pakistan):**
    *   Discovered in 1921-22 by Dayaram Sahni.
    *   Located on the banks of the Ravi River in Sahiwal (formerly Montgomery) district, Punjab, Pakistan.
    *   City divided into three main sections:
        *   The Citadel
        *   The Middletown
        *   The Lower Town
    *   Significant Findings:
        *   Two rows of six granaries.
        *   Workers' quarters.
        *   Two sandstone statues depicting human anatomy.
        *   Sculpture of a dog attacking a deer.
        *   Small bullock carts (known as ekkas).
    *   Granary: Circular brick platforms for threshing grains.

*   **Mohenjo-Daro (Sindh, Pakistan):**
    *   Discovered in 1922 by R.D. Banerji.
    *   Located on the right bank of the Indus River in southern Pakistan.
    *   Significant Discoveries:
        *   Bronze statue of a dancing girl.
        *   Sculpture of a bearded priest.
        *   The Great Granary (largest building).
        *   The Great Bath (public water tank, probably used for religious purposes).
        *   Paved bathroom found.
    *   Drains: Wooden doors, probably closed at night to prevent vagrants or negative elements.

*   **Lothal (Gujarat, India):**
    *   Location: Bank of the Bhogwa River, Gujarat.
    *   Features:
        *   Evidence of the earliest cultivation of rice.
        *   Served as a seaport for the Indus Valley people.
        *   Brick structure identified as a dockyard (berthing ships and handling cargo).

*   **Kalibangan (Rajasthan, India):**
    *   Fire altars found.
    *   Findings:
        *   Lower fortified town.
        *   Boustrophedon style writing.
        *   Wooden drainage.
        *   Copper Ox.
        *   Evidence of earthquake.
        *   Wooden plough.
        *   Camel bones.

*   **Dholavira (Gujarat, India):**
    *   Discovered in 1968 by archaeologist Jagat Pati Joshi.
    *   Located on Khadir Beyt in the Runn of Kutch.
    *   Divided into three parts.
    *   Fifth largest metropolis of Indus Valley Civilization.
    *   40th Indian site on UNESCO's World Heritage list.
    *   Underground drainage systems, water reservoirs, fortified citadels (prominent architectural feature).

*   **Surkotada (Gujarat, India):**
    *   Discovered in 1964-68 by Jagat Pati Joshi.
    *   Located in northeast Bhuj in Gujarat.

*   **Chanhudaro (Sindh, Pakistan):**
    *   Discovered in 1931 by N. G. Majumdar.
    *   Located in Sindh, Pakistan.
    *   Citadels not fortified (exception).

*   **Sotka Koh (Balochistan, Pakistan):**
    *   Discovered by George F. Dales.
    *   Located on the Makran coast, near the city of Pasni, Balochistan (Pakistan).

*   **Mehrgarh (Pakistan):**
    *   Pottery first traceable to Neolithic Mehrgarh.
    *   Cotton was probably grown at Mehrgarh from about 7000 years ago (oldest agricultural settlement in Indian subcontinent).
    *   Square or rectangular house remains found.
    *   Evidence of animal bones.
    *   First place where people started growing barley and wheat, reared sheep and goat (one of the oldest villages).

*   **Daojali Hading (Assam, India):**
    *   Neolithic site in Dima Hasao District of Assam.
    *   Jadeite stone was found.
    *   Near Brahmaputra valley, close to routes leading into China and Myanmar.

*   **Tekwada (Maharashtra, India):**
    *   Iron Age site located in Maharashtra.

*   **Hallur (Karnataka, India):**
    *   Iron Age site in Karnataka.
    *   Some Iron Age sites in India: Hallur (Karnataka), Adichanallur and Mayiladumparai (Tamil Nadu), Raja Nal ka Tila (Uttar Pradesh).
    *   Jadeite stone was NOT found (as per text implying contrast with Daojali Hading).

*   **Adichanallur (Tamil Nadu, India):**
    *   Iron Age site in Tamil Nadu.

*   **Mayiladumparai (Tamil Nadu, India):**
    *   Iron Age site in Tamil Nadu.

*   **Raja Nalka Tila (Uttar Pradesh, India):**
    *   Iron Age site in Uttar Pradesh.

*   **Patne (Maharashtra, India):**
    *   Large quantities of ostrich egg shells found at Patne, Maharashtra (Palaeolithic age).

**II. Key Features of Indus Valley Civilization**

*   **Architecture:**
    *   Citadel: Prominent architectural feature of Indus Valley towns and cities (prominent architectural feature).
    *   Town Planning: Grid-based town planning.
    *   Houses: Square or rectangular house remains found in Mehrgarh.
    *   Materials: Use of burnt bricks, stone pieces set in a circular shape around the grave, standing stone, Single megaliths placed horizontally over burial chambers, Large capstone on two or more support stones creating a chamber (Megalith).
    *   Drains: Underground drainage systems (like Dholavira's water reservoirs), Wooden drainage (Kalibangan), Exiting from Mohenjo-Daro had wooden doors.
    *   Granaries: Granaries discovered in Mohenjodaro and Harappa. Harappa granary had circular brick platforms for threshing grains. Mohenjodaro's Great Granary is the largest building. Two rows of six granaries found in Harappa.
    *   Great Bath: Public water tank located in Mohenjo Daro (Pakistan), large rectangular tank in a courtyard surrounded by a corridor.

*   **Artifacts & Materials:**
    *   Seals: Most Harappan seals made of Steatite (a kind of soft stone), some seals also made of terracotta, gold, agate, chert, ivory, and faience. Two important seals were the Pashupati seal and the Unicorn seal.
    *   Pottery: Pottery was first traceable to Neolithic period, Pottery has been discovered in the early villages of Mehrgarh, Ceramic associated with Iron age was Painted Grey Ware.
    *   Metals: Copper was the first metal used in Indus Valley (Bronze Age civilization) to make tools, utensils, and other objects. Harappans sourced copper from present-day Rajasthan and Oman. Metals used were lead, gold, bronze and silver. Harappan brought Gold from present-day Karnataka in India. Tin brought from present-day Afghanistan and Iran.
    *   Stone: Megalith is a large stone that has been used to construct a pre historic structure or monument. Jadeite stone was found in Daojali Hading. Precious stones brought from present-day Gujarat, Iran and Afghanistan.

*   **Economic & Social Aspects:**
    *   Agriculture: Oldest agricultural settlement in the Indian subcontinent is Mehrgarh, Cotton was probably grown at Mehrgarh from about 7000 years ago, Evidence of the earliest cultivation of rice found in Lothal, First place where people started growing barley and wheat found in Mehrgarh.
    *   Trade & Transport: Lothal served as a seaport for the Indus Valley people, Dockyard meant for berthing ships and handling cargo identified in Lothal, Harappans sourced copper from present-day Rajasthan and Oman, Harappan brought Gold from present-day Karnataka in India, Tin brought from present-day Afghanistan and Iran, Precious stones brought from present-day Gujarat, Iran and Afghanistan.
    *   Burials: At burials in Harappan sites the dead were generally laid in pits.
    *   Units of measurement: (Not explicitly mentioned in provided text).
    *   Social Divisions: Harappan cities typically structured into two distinct sections: Citadel (smaller, higher, west) and Lower Town (larger, lower, east). Archaeologists describe the lower part of the towns as Lower Town, not Citadel. Rigvedic society was structured into three main varnas: Priests, Warriors, and Ordinary People. Traditional caste system consists of a hierarchy of four castes (varnas) - Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras. Wealthy person was known as Gomat in Vedic times.

*   **Chronology & Periodization:**
    *   Harappa was discovered in 1921, Mohenjodaro in 1922.
    *   Indus Valley Civilization (Bronze Age).
    *   Palaeolithic period: First and longest part of the Stone Age when humans made stone tools.
    *   Neolithic Period: Last stage of the Stone Age, Pottery was first traceable to Neolithic Mehrgarh, Celt is from the Neolithic period.
    *   Mesolithic Period (Middle Stone Age): Duration from about 12000, 10000 years ago to 10000, 7000 years ago.
    *   Iron Age: Time period when iron became the primary material for tools and weapons, Iron Age site named Tekwada is located in Maharashtra, Civilisations that flourished during the Iron Age were Greece, Rome, Persia and India. Indus Valley Civilization did NOT flourish during the Iron Age (flourished during Bronze Age). Megaliths practice began about 3000 years ago in India. Cotton was probably grown at Mehrgarh from about 7000 years ago (Neolithic).

**III. Key Figures**

*   **Archaeologists:**
    *   Dayaram Sahni: Discovered Harappa (1921-22).
    *   R.D. Banerji: Discovered Mohenjo-Daro (1922).
    *   Dr. R.S. Bisht: Excavated Banawali.
    *   Jagat Pati Joshi: Discovered Dholavira (1968) and Surkotada (1964-68).
    *   N. G. Majumdar: Discovered Chanhudaro (1931).
    *   George F. Dales: Discovered Sotka koh.
    *   V. S. Wakankar: Discovered Bhimbetka (1957).
    *   Jean-Francois Jarrige: Discovered Mehrgarh (1974).

**IV. Miscellaneous**

*   **True Statements about Harappan Civilization:**
    *   At burials in Harappan sites the dead were generally laid in pits.
*   **Incorrect Statements about Harappan Civilization:**
    *   Harappan culture spread only to Sindh and Punjab.
    *   The script of the Harappan culture has been deciphered by historians.
    *   Granaries in the Indus Valley Civilization were found in Harappa only.
    *   Indus Valley Civilization flourished during the Iron Age.
*   **Prominent architectural feature of the Indus Valley towns and cities:** Citadel.
*   **Harappan cities division:** Higher Town and Lower Town (most cities).
*   **Lower part of Harappan towns described as:** Lower Town (not Citadel).
*   **Fire altars found in Harappan cities:** Kalibangan and Lothal.
*   **Ostriches in India during:** Palaeolithic period.
*   **Jadeite stone site:** Daojali Hading.
*   **Metals for weapons and tools in Harappan cities:** Copper.
*   **Harappan brought Gold from:** Present-day Karnataka in India.
*   **House remains in Mehrgarh site:** Square or rectangular.
*   **Duration of the Mesolithic period:** From about 12000, 10000 years ago to 10000, 7000 years ago.
*   **Megaliths erecting practice in India began about:** 3000 years ago.
*   **Cotton probably grown at Mehrgarh from about:** 7000 years ago.
*   **Harappan town located on Khadir Beyt in the Runn of Kutch and was divided into three parts:** Dholavira.
*   **Bhimbetka located in:** Madhya Pradesh (Palaeolithic site).
*   **Wealthy person known as in Vedic times:** Gomat (derived from word 'Go' meaning cow).
*   **Jantar Mantar in Delhi built by:** Maharaja Jai Singh IInd.
*   **Tower of Victory, Vijay stambha located in:** Rajasthan.
*   **The Gommateshwara statue is located at:** Karnataka.
*   **Brihadeeswara temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in:** Tamil Nadu.
*   **Konark Sun Temple is situated in:** Odisha.
*   **Borobudur Buddhist Temple located in:** Indonesia.
*   **Buddhist Pilgrimage 'tooth temple' is located in:** Sri Lanka.
*   **Vastu art mainly consists of:** Chaitya, Vihara, Stupa and Stambha (Buddhist).
*   **The rise of Jainism and Buddhism saw religious unrest in India in the:** Sixth century BC.
*   **Lord Mahavira's original name is:** Vardhamana.
*   **Indus Valley civilization is also called the:** Bronze age civilization.