Major Sites in Indus Valley Civilization and Archaeological Discoveries

In this article we haven’t covered history of Harappan/Indus civilization. We have covered important findings of Indus civilization. Many of them are recently asked in exams. So if you are preparing for one day examination. Read this article very carefully and bookmark this article for future reference.

Archaeological Findings :

Harappa:- 6 Granaries in a row, Working floors, Workmen’s quarters, Virgin-Goddess (seal), Cemetery, Stone symbols of Lingam (male sex organ) and Yoni (female sex organ), sandstone statuette of a male torso, steatite statuette of male dancer Painted pottery, Clay figures of Mother Goddess, Wheat and Barley in a wooden mortar, Copper scale, Crucible for bronze, Copper-made mirror, Vanity box, Dice.

•           Harappa is situated on the bank of the Ravi River.

Mohenjodaro:- Great Granary, Great Bath (the largest building of Indus Civilization), Assembly hall, Shell strips, Pashupati Mahadeva/ Proto-Shiva (seal), Bronze Image of a nude woman dancer, Steatite statuette of Priest/Priest King (bust of a bearded man), Human skeletons huddled together, Painted seal (Demi-God), Clay figures of Mother Goddess, A fragment of woven cotton, Brick Kilns, 2 Mesopotamian seals, 1398 seals (56% of total seals of civilization).

• The river that belongs to Mohenjodaro – Indus

Kalibangan:- Ploughed field surface, 7 fire alters, Decorated bricks, Wheels of a toy cart, Mesopotamian cylindrical seal.

• The river that belongs to Kalibangan – Ghaggar

Chanhudaro:- City without citadel, Inkpot, Lipstick, Metal-workers’, shell-ornament makers and bead-makers shops, Imprint of dog’s paw on a brick, Terracotta model of a bullock cart, Bronze toy cart.

• The river that belongs to Chanhudaro – Indus

Dholavira:- A unique water harnessing system and its stormwater drainage system, a large well, and a bath (giant water reservoir), Only site to be divided into 3 parts, stadium.

• The river that belongs to Dholavira – Luni

Lothal:- Dockyard, rice husk; metal workers, Terracotta figurine of a horse, Double burial (a man and woman in the single grave), Terracotta model of a ship, Dying vat, Persian/Iranian seal, Baharainean seal, Painted jar (bird and fox).

• The river that belongs to Lothal – Bhogava 

Surkotada:- Bones of the horse, oval grave, Pot burials.

Daimabad:- Bronze images (Charioteer with chariot, ox, elephant, and rhinoceros).

Banawali:- Lack of chess board, iron grid pattern of town planning, Lack of systematic drainage system, Toy plough, clay figure of mother Goddess.

Mehrgarh:- Stone, bone tools, beads, bangles, pendants, and occasionally animal sacrifices.

Rakhigarhi:- cemetery, grave pits, Human skeleton, cotton clothes traces.

Amri:- a number of compact, rectangular, mud-brick homes, each separated into a few small rooms.

Rana Ghundai:- Teeth of horses.

Sukkur:- Factories of stone.

Some crucial points apart from archaeological finds

• Mohenjodaro is the largest site of this civilization.
• Rakhigarhi is the largest Indian site of this civilization.
• John Marshall was the first one who uses the term ‘Indus Civilization.