Harappan civilisation: enigma remains even after 100 years of exploration

• September 20, 2024 marks the centenary of the announcement of the discovery of the Indus Valley civilisation, which now spans 2,000 sites across 1.5 million sq. km in India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan

Highlights:

• Exactly 100 years ago, on September 20, 1924, John Marshall, then-Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), announced a major archaeological discovery in The Illustrated London News.
• Titled First Light on a Long-forgotten Civilisation: New Discoveries of an Unknown Prehistoric Past, the article introduced the world to the "civilisation of the Indus Valley," now known as the Harappan civilisation. This revelation continues to impact South Asia a century later.

The Harappan Civilisation:

• The Harappan civilisation, a Bronze Age culture, was named after Harappa (in present-day Pakistan), the first site discovered.
• For the past century, the civilisation has intrigued scholars from various fields—town planners, epigraphists, metallurgists, and astronomers—due to its technological prowess and unsolved mysteries.

Technological Achievements:

• At its peak, the Harappan civilisation was a "technological powerhouse," excelling in:
• Town Planning: Advanced urban design with streets laid at right angles.
• Water Management: Harvesting rainwater, building reservoirs, and developing underground sullage systems.
• Craftsmanship: Producing bronze and copper artefacts, terracotta products, painted pottery, and intricate steatite seals.
• Maritime Abilities: Building seafaring boats and establishing maritime trade links with West Asia.

Key Discoveries and Contributions:

• Two ASI archaeologists, Daya Ram Sahni and Rakhal Das Banerji, played crucial roles in unearthing the civilisation. Sahni excavated Harappa in 1921-22, while Banerji began work at Mohenjo-daro in 1922. Both sites revealed similar artefacts, prompting Marshall to declare the discovery of the "Indus Valley civilisation."

Phases of the Harappan Civilisation

• The civilisation can be divided into three distinct phases:
  • Early Phase (3200 BCE to 2600 BCE): Initial settlements and cultural development.
  • Mature Phase (2600 BCE to 1900 BCE): Peak of urbanisation and technological advancements.
  • Late Phase (1900 BCE to 1500 BCE): Gradual decline and collapse.

Geographic Extent and Major Sites:

• The Harappan civilisation extended over 1.5 million sq. km, with around 2,000 sites found in present-day India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Major sites include:
  • Harappa and Mohenjo-daro (Pakistan)
  • Rakhigarhi and Dholavira (India)
  • Ganweriwala (Pakistan)
• The civilisation thrived along the Indus and Saraswati rivers, with its southernmost outpost at Daimabad in Maharashtra.

Unique Features of the Harappan Civilisation:

• Asko Parpola, a scholar of the Indus civilisation, highlighted its unique features:
  • Indus Script: A yet-to-be-deciphered writing system.
  • Standardised Measurements: Cubic weights made of chert, using binary and decimal systems.
  • Burnt Brick Architecture: Standardised brick sizes for construction.
  • Lapidary Art: Highly skilled micro-drilling techniques used to create long carnelian beads with intricate designs.

The Significance of the Discovery:

• The discovery of the Harappan civilisation had profound implications:
  • Filling Historical Gaps: It refuted the belief that South Asia's settled life began only in the 6th century BCE, pushing back the region’s history by over 3,000 years.
  • Global Impact: It added another ancient civilisation to Asia's historical landscape, alongside Egypt and Mesopotamia, and revealed maritime trade links with West Asia from 3000 BCE.

Origins of the Harappan Civilisation:

• The roots of the civilisation can be traced to Mehrgarh, in Balochistan, Pakistan, dating back to 7000 BCE. Mehrgarh played a pivotal role in the early development of agricultural and village life in the region.

Prelims Takeaways:

• Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)