Harappan Society and Power Quiz

Harappan Society and Power

• Archaeologists have found a large building in Mohenjodaro that they have labeled as a palace, but no spectacular finds have been found inside
• The building was labelled a "priest-king's palace" due to parallels with Mesopotamian history
• The Harappan civilization's ritual practices are not well understood, and it is unknown whether those who performed these rituals held political power
• Some archaeologists believe there were no rulers in the Harappan society, and that everyone enjoyed equal status
• Other archaeologists believe that there was no single ruler, but rather several, with each city having its own leader
• Still other archaeologists posit the existence of a single Harappan state, citing the uniformity of artifacts, planned settlements, standardized brick sizes, and the proximity of settlements to raw materials.
• Archaeologists have found structures with features that suggest they were built for utilitarian purposes

The End of the Harappan Civilization

• By around 1800 BCE, most Mature Harappan sites in regions like Cholistan had been abandoned
• During this period, population expanded into new settlements in Gujarat, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh

Problems of Interpreting Harappan Religion

• Archaeologists have interpreted religious practices based on objects they considered unusual or unfamiliar
• These artifacts include terracotta figurines of women, heavily jeweled and wearing elaborate head-dresses, which were regarded as mother goddesses
• Stone statues of men in a seated position with one hand on their knee, like the "priest-king", were also assigned religious significance
• Structures like the Great Bath and fire altars found at Kalibangan and Lothal have been interpreted as having ritual significance
• Seals have also been used to reconstruct religious beliefs and practices, with some depicting ritual scenes
• Seals with plant motifs are thought to indicate nature worship
• Animals depicted on seals, such as the one-horned animal, are often considered to be mythical creatures
• A figure seated cross-legged in a "yogic" posture, surrounded by animals, on some seals has been interpreted as a depiction of "proto-Shiva"
• Conical stone objects have been classified as "lingas"
• Many reconstructions of Harappan religion assume that later traditions provide parallels with earlier traditions
• The use of parallels between past and present traditions is plausible when examining stone querns and pots, but becomes more speculative when applied to religious symbols
• The "proto-Shiva" seals have been interpreted using parallels from later traditions, but the earliest religious text, the Rigveda, does not depict Rudra (a deity connected to Shiva in later traditions) in the same manner.
• Small conical stones made of lapis lazuli, jasper, chalcedony, and other materials are thought to be "lingas", but they might have also been used in board games

Archaeological Evidence and Harappan Economy

• Archaeological evidence has been used to reconstruct the Harappan economy
• The discovery of terracotta carts suggests wheeled transport was used
• Evidence of agriculture, including grain storage, indicates agriculture played a crucial role in the economy
• The discovery of tools and workshops points to specialized crafts and industries

Timeline of Harappan Archaeology

• Alexander Cunningham reported a Harappan seal in 1875
• Daya Ram Sahni began excavations at Harappa in 1921
• Excavations began at Mohenjodaro in 1922
• R.E.M. Wheeler excavated at Harappa in 1946
• S.R. Rao began excavations at Lothal in 1955
• B.B. Lal and B.K. Thapar started excavations at Kalibangan in 1960
• M.R. Mughal began explorations in Bahawalpur in 1974
• A team of German and Italian archaeologists began surface explorations at Mohenjodaro in 1980
• An American team began excavations at Harappa in 1986