30 Questions
What are the two kinds of pottery found in excavation sites?
Plain pottery and painted pottery
What colors are used in Red and Black pottery?
Red background with black designs
What are some themes depicted on the painted pottery?
Trees, birds, animal figures, and geometrical patterns
What were the materials used for making decorative potteries?
All wheel-made potteries
Which stone figure showcases the craftsmanship of the Indus Valley Civilization?
Bearded priest stone figure
What kind of clothing did women wear during the Indus Valley Civilization?
Short skirts
Which site is known as the 'Manchester of India' due to its high crop production?
Lothal
Who excavated Kalibangan in 1961?
BB Lal
What item was NOT found at the Harappan site excavated by Daya Ram Sahni?
Double cropping pattern
Where were children found with a head having a hole in the skull?
Harappan
Which archaeologist excavated Lothal?
SR Rao
In which river's banks is Kalibangan located?
Ghaggar River
Where did the Indus Valley Civilization extend to in the South?
Gulf of Khambhat
Which site marks the westmost point of the Indus Valley Civilization?
Sutkagendor
During which period did the Late Harappan phase occur?
BC 1900 - 1500
What is the chronological order of the Harappan phases from earliest to latest?
Pre-Harappan, Early Harappan, Mature Harappan, Late Harappan
Which civilization was connected through trade with the Indus Valley Civilization?
Pharaohs (Egypt)
Where did the Southernmost site of the Indus Valley Civilization exist?
Daimabad
What were women's ornaments made of in the Indus Valley Civilization?
Shells, gold, and silver
Which activity was commonly enjoyed by old people in the Indus Valley Civilization?
Gambling
What types of objects were used for trade by the people of the Indus Valley Civilization?
Seals and small objects
Which material was NOT commonly used in making beads by the people of the Indus Valley Civilization?
Leather
What was one of the reasons theorized for the fall of the Harappan civilization?
Massive flood to the Indus River
Which trade route is mentioned as being used by the people of the Harappan civilization?
Trading with Mesopotamia
Which river is Alamgirpur situated near?
Sabarmati River
What unique feature did Chanhudaro have among all Indus Valley cities?
A bangle factory
Which river is Rakhigarhi situated near?
Drishadvati River
Who excavated the site of Kot Diji?
Dr. Amarendra Nath
What type of objects were found at Rakhigarhi?
Copper and bronze objects
What was unique about Dholavira compared to other Indus Valley cities?
Stone constructions for houses and granaries
Study Notes
Indus Valley Civilization
- Dates back to 2500 BC, the first modern civilization
- Extended from Kabul in Afghanistan to the Gulf of Khambhat in Gujarat, India
- Spanned across the Indus River, with sites found near coasts and rivers
Important Sites
- Mohenjodaro, Harappa, Kalibangan, Kuchchh, Lothal, Alamgirpur, Dholavira, Chahnudaro, Kot Diji, Desalpur, and Surkotada
Chronology and Periodization
- Pre-Harappan (7000 - 3500 BC)
- Early Harappan (3500 - 2800 BC)
- Mature Harappan (2800 - 1900 BC)
- Late Harappan (1900 - 1500 BC)
- Post Harappan/Vedic Age (1500 BC - 600 AD)
Significant Discoveries
- Pashupati seal
- Stone figure of a priest
- Dancing girl bronze figure
- Great bath
- Granaries for storing grains
- Terracotta figure of a Mother goddess
- Bearded man
- Cotton production
Site-Specific Findings
Mohenjodaro
- Excavated by RD Banerji in 1922
- Items found: Pashupati seal, stone figure of a priest, dancing girl bronze figure, great bath, granaries, terracotta figure of a Mother goddess, bearded man, cotton production
Harappa
- Excavated by Daya Ram Sahni in 1921-1923
- Items found: Graveyard, coffin burials, granaries with small quarters, children's skeletons with holes in their skulls
Kalibangan
- Excavated by BB Lal in 1961
- Items found: Priest quarters, fire pits, double cropping pattern, bronze bull
Lothal
- Excavated by SR Rao in 1954
- Items found: Twin burials, terracotta model of plough, Manchester of India (highest crop production)
Alamgirpur
- Excavated by JP Joshi in 1967-68
- Items found: Broken blade made of copper, ceramic items
Dholavira
- Excavated by NG Majumdar in 1931
- Items found: Stone constructions for houses and granaries, bangle factory, ink pot, bead makers' shop, footprint of a dog chasing a cat
Rakhigarhi
- Excavated by Dr. Amarendra Nath in the 1960s
- Items found: Stone tools and weapons, copper and bronze objects, terracotta figurines, seals and amulets
Kot Diji
- Excavated in the Sindh region
- Items found: Mother goddess statue, pottery
Pottery
- Two kinds of pottery: plain and painted
- Painted pottery (Red and Black pottery)
- Themes: trees, birds, animals, geometrical patterns
- Use: household, decorative, and pouring liquids
Figures and Symbols
- Bearded priest stone figure
- Pashupati seal
- Dancing girl bronze figure
- Great bath
- Fire pits
Livelihood
- Food: wheat, barley, pomegranates, bananas, meat, and fish
- Costumes: wool and cotton, short skirts for women, long piece of cloth for men
- Ornaments: shells, gold, silver, amulets
- Amusements: small clay carts, dolls, rattles, marbles, whistles
- Occupations: weaving, trading with the Persian Gulf and Sumerians, making beads and amulets, metalwork
Trade and Commerce
- Trading with the Persian Gulf and Sumerians
- Weights and measures found at Lothal dock
- Traces of trading with Afghanistan for blue gemstones and Lapis Lazuli
Religion
- Belief in gods and goddesses
- Inscriptions of clay figures of mother-goddess and seated figures of male gods
- Sacred symbols: Peepal Tree, Horned Bull, etc.
Fall of the Harappans
- Predicted around 1500 BC
- Theories: massive flood, arrival of Aryans
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