Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Ok so when we start studying ancient history the first question that comes to your
mind is why study what people did some thousands of years back and what relevance
it holds now?
It is mainly for us to understand that:
How and why our ancestors lived as they did,
The difficulties they faced and
How they overcame them.
To get an overview of the interests and concerns of people existing at that time
(people living in both aristocratic and lower levels of the society)
So as to get acquainted with our past to understand better what is happening
today.
1. THE HARAPPAN CIVILIZATION
includes->
Ans- Seals show wider spacing on right & cramping towards the left
meaning as if the engraver began working from right and then fell
short of space.
Writings found on-> seals, copper tools, rims of jars, copper &
terracotta tablets, jewellery, bone rods + an ancient signboard.
Considering above variety of writings on objects-> can be extrapolated
that literacy was widespread.
1.8.3 Weights
Exchange was regulated by a precise system of weights.
Weights-> made of-> Chert (a stone)-> cubical shape + no markings.
Smaller weights-> used for weighing-> Jewellery + beads
1.9 ANCIENT AUTHORITY (Who was the BOSS??)
Harappan society-> presents examples of complex decisions
taken + implemented.
Some examples-> extraordinary uniformity in Harappan artefacts i.e. pottery,
seals, weights and bricks.
Bricks-> not produced in any single centre-> but-> uniform ratio followed
throughout the region from Jammu to Gujarat.
Another example-> settlements set up strategically in specific locations (i.e.
areas near to rich deposits of precious stones+ metals+ trade centres)
Also-> labour mobilized-> for brick making+ construction of massive walls &
platforms.
1.9.1 Palaces & Kings
Large Building found in Mohenjodaro-> labeled as palace-> but no
spectacular finds.
A stone statue found-> known as Priest King-> associated with
familiarity in Mesopotamian history-> also found parallels in Indus region.
Many theories proposed-> (a) some archaeologists say no rulers were
present, all enjoyed equal status,
(b) some others argue there was a single state.
(c) others felt there was no single ruler but
several (i.e. Mohenjodaro had a separate
ruler, Harappa another and so forth)
Option (b) considered more legit due to the following reasons:
Due to similarity in artefacts
Evidence of planned settlements
Standardized ratio of Brick size
Establishment of settlement near sources of raw materials
So this suggests that a single house of power existed and it is unlikely that
such complex decisions could have been collectively made & implemented
John Marshall:
DG of ASI in 1927
Announced the discovery of new civilization in the Indus
Valley to the world.
First professional archaeologist in India
Brought his expertise of working in Greece & Crete.
Excavated along horizontal units
Ignored the stratigraphy of site
So all artefacts grouped together even if they were found @
different stratigraphic layers.
Hence, valuable info regarding these finds-> lost forever.
R.E.M. Wheeler:
DG of ASI in 1944
Realized importance of following the stratigraphy rather than
excavating horizontally.
Major Harappan sites are now in Pakistan.
Hence, extensive survey was taken up in Kutch.
Some of the recently discovered sites are tabulated below:
SITE
LOCATION
DISCOVERED BY
Dholavira
R.S. Bisht
Ganverivala
Pakistan
Rafeeq Mugal
Rakhi Garhi
Jind (Haryana)
Rafeeq Mugal