Questions and Answers
What is one of the major river systems where many Harappan sites are located?
Which site is recognized as one of the five largest Harappan sites in the Indian subcontinent?
What significant climatic change occurred around 3000-2500 BCE according to studies?
Which of the following rivers is a tributary of the Sarasvati river system?
Signup and view all the answers
Who was the first Director General of the Archaeological Survey who visited Harappa?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following sites was not mentioned as part of the excavated Harappan sites?
Signup and view all the answers
What material from Harappa was used for ballast in the Lahore-Multan railway?
Signup and view all the answers
Which antiquarian first recorded a visit to the mound at Harappa?
Signup and view all the answers
What was one of the significant findings by Alexander Cunningham during his visits to Harappa?
Signup and view all the answers
Which site was noted by Lt.Col.James Todd as 'Kali-Bang' in 1829?
Signup and view all the answers
Prior to the identification of the Harappan civilization, what was the significance of the seals published?
Signup and view all the answers
Which archaeological site was visited by Sir Alexander Burnes in 1831?
Signup and view all the answers
What notable finding was reported by the British Museum concerning Harappan seals?
Signup and view all the answers
Who conducted the first assessment of Harappa?
Signup and view all the answers
What significant archaeological site was discovered by D.R. Bhandarkar?
Signup and view all the answers
What was noted by R.D. Banerji regarding the finds from Harappa and Mohenjo-daro?
Signup and view all the answers
Which civilization's antiquities were found to be similar to those of Harappa?
Signup and view all the answers
What was discovered in 1937 at Harappa?
Signup and view all the answers
Which site was notably excavated by N.G. Majumdar in 1929-30?
Signup and view all the answers
What is one potential assumption about the pain experienced by individuals with drilled molars in burials dating to 7000-5500 BCE?
Signup and view all the answers
When did excavation at Mohenjo-daro end?
Signup and view all the answers
Who compared the finds from Harappa and Mohenjo-daro and published in the Illustrated London News?
Signup and view all the answers
Which characteristic best describes the subsistence economy during this period?
Signup and view all the answers
What type of figurines were created from clay during this period?
Signup and view all the answers
Which trade network was indicated by the marine shell bangles found in burials?
Signup and view all the answers
Which materials were commonly found in the jewellery from the burial sites?
Signup and view all the answers
What significant agricultural development occurred in Mehrgarh around 9000 BCE?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following crops were grown during the early food-producing era in Mehrgarh?
Signup and view all the answers
What evidence suggests the use of animal husbandry in Mehrgarh?
Signup and view all the answers
When was the harvesting season for crops in Mehrgarh typically conducted?
Signup and view all the answers
Which architectural feature characterized houses in Mehrgarh during its later phases?
Signup and view all the answers
Which type of wild fruit was harvested by the inhabitants of Mehrgarh?
Signup and view all the answers
Which animal remains were found at Mehrgarh, indicating its subsistence economy included animal husbandry?
Signup and view all the answers
What indicates that settlers in Mehrgarh became less mobile?
Signup and view all the answers
Which tool evidence found in Mehrgarh indicates early agricultural practices?
Signup and view all the answers
What factor contributed to the stable foundation of a state-level society in Mehrgarh?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Introduction to Harappan Civilization
- Charles Mason first recorded Harappa in 1829, associating it with the ancient city of Sangla.
- Lt. Col. James Todd referred to Kalibangan in the same year, while Sir Alexander Burnes noted Amri in 1831.
- Alexander Cunningham, first Director General of Archaeological Survey, visited Harappa multiple times (1853, 1856, 1875) and laid out early site plans.
- Harappa once spanned 4 km, with remnants removed for railway ballast; bricks used for 100 km of Lahore-Multan railway.
- Only five seals of Harappan civilization were published before their true significance was recognized.
Key Discoveries and Excavations
- Significant early assessments of Harappa were conducted by Pandit Hira Nanda Sastri (1909) and Harold Hargreaves (1914).
- Excavation began in 1920-21 at Harappa; Mohenjo-daro discovered by D.R. Bhandarkar in 1911-12.
- R.D. Banerji’s excavations (1923-24) highlighted connections between Harappa and Mohenjo-daro.
- Sir John Marshall's work (1902 onwards) on Harappan seals at the British Museum advanced understanding of the civilization.
- New evidence of Mesopotamian contact emerged through seals and ceramics found at Harappan sites.
After Independence
- Post-1947 India saw renewed exploration along riverbeds like Ghaggar, revealing significant Harappan sites.
- Major sites excavated include Dholavira and Rakhigarhi alongside others like Kalibangan and Lothal.
- Excavations during this period provided insights into early, mature, and late phases of the Harappan civilization.
Geographical Settings
- Harappan sites primarily located along the Indus and Ghaggar-Sarasvati-Hakra river systems.
- Major rivers include Gomal, Kabul, Bolan, Beas, Ravi, and Sutlej.
- Himalayas to the north and Aravalli ranges to the east provided key resources like lead, silver, and copper.
Climatic Changes
- Research indicates significant climatic shifts occurred around 9500 BCE, 3000-2500 BCE, and 1300 BCE, impacting agricultural practices.
- Mid-Holocene studies suggest rainfall distribution changes corresponding to 4400-3760 BCE and 2200-2000 BCE, aligning with Harappan decline.
Mehrgarh - Early Settlements
- Mehrgarh (9000 BCE) was an early food-producing site establishing the foundations of state-level society.
- Evidence of domesticated plants: barley, wheat, and livestock like Zebu cattle and goats.
- Settlements featured mud brick houses and showcased early agricultural practices with evidence of crop production cycles.
Subsistence and Economy
- Subsistence economy combined hunting-gathering with agriculture and animal husbandry.
- Wheat varieties include einkorn and emmer; barley varieties include hulled and naked types.
- Seasonal planting post-monsoon with harvests occurring in March-April; diets supplemented with wild fruits like jujube.
Burial Practices and Trade
- Burials at Mehrgarh included ornaments made from materials traded from great distances, indicating early trade networks.
- Terracotta figurines and shells from coastal trade routes highlight extensive interactions with distant regions.
- Burial ornaments consisted of lapis lazuli, turquoise, shell, steatite, and carnelian, showcasing wealth and trade connections.
Conclusion
- Research into the Harappan civilization has unraveled complex agricultural, social, and trade networks, pivotal to understanding early urbanization in the region.
- Ongoing studies continue to uncover the depth of Harappan culture and its connections to contemporary civilizations.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Explore the fascinating aspects of the Harappan Civilization, its key discoverers, and early excavations. Learn about the significant findings at archaeological sites like Harappa and Mohenjo-daro. This quiz will take you through the essential milestones in uncovering one of the world's earliest urban cultures.
