Ancient World : Harappa Civilization Ramaa Narayanan.

January 2011 Sources : Art and Architecture of India and the Subcontinent by J.C.Harle I Extent : Main centres : Harappa, Mohenjodaro; Chanhudaro, Lothal, Baluch foothills in the north to Kim estuary, Gujarat (Lothal) in the south Sutkajendor (presentover an area of at least 1200 miles by 700 miles. day Afghan isthan) in the west to the banks of river Jamuna in the east. Harappa Ciiviliza tion is now known to have extended. Discovery : In 1924 excavations at Harappa and Mohenjadaro revealed cities at the lower leve ls of the site. It pushed Indias dated history, especially its cultural past to 3 000 BCE. (BCE : Before Common Era) Dating : Scientific excavation : stratigraphy Seals of the Indus valley proved to be crucial finds for dating by comparison. T he Indus seals found there provide proof of physical contacts between the two ci vilizations. Carbon 14 testing an advanced and scientific method proved the chronological f acts / findings beyond doubt Period 3000 BCE to 1500 BCE Largely derived from chalcolithic cultures which survived in some sites, Harappa Civilization is marked by an astonishing uniformity wherever it appears, by the existence of writing, and by development of cities. Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa, now in Pakistan were the chief sites of Harappa Civi lizatio. Mohenjo-daro a couple of miles from the present bed of lower Indus in S ind; and Harappa on the banks of Ravi a tributary of Indus in the Punjab. Both a re eminent both in size and in the wealth of objects all kinds which have been r ecovered from them. These two sites along with Lothal near the Gulf of Cambay sh ow the same pattern of fortifications, citadel and lower city. Rectilinear stree t plans, and houses invariably having upper floors leading straight from the str eet show a high sense of town planning. The streets are wide, with drains collec ting from bathrooms and latrines by means of chutes. Among the extensive remains one is struck by the preponderance of dwellings and the total lack of Identrifi able religious edifices. To sum up, The architectural remains of Mohenjo-Daro suggest a modern commercial centre, m ajor avenues along a northsouth orientation, streets as wide as 40 feet, multisto ried houses of fired brick and wood and elaborate drainage systems.

II Harappa civilization is a proto-historic civilization. It is a chalcolithic civilization. It is a riverine civilisation

It is an urban civilization. The material remains testify that Harappa civilization was utilitarian in charac ter. There is hardly any decoration found on the architectural structures or utilitarian artifacts. The trefoil pattern on the robe of the Bearded Man, trace s of madder dye indicating use of red dyed textiles are the evidences for the sca nt use decoration. However the painted pottery excavated in great numbers show a keen s ense of surface design that is informed by geometric order. Harappa civilization was a well advanced civilization, since they had knowledge of wheel Small scale sculptures of which just a handful remains, depict figures from hig her class Bearded Man in limestone and the bronze Dancing Girl are interesting for their f orm and technique. Some sculptures from sites of Harappa Civilization reflect M esopotamian influences; most others indicate a presence of a thoroughly develope d Indian tradition. The craftsmans skill is probably at its highest in the seals which have been foun d in hundreds. They bear animal and human figures and short inscriptions in the Indus Valley script. Bulls, including humped Brahmin type, buffaloes, rhinoceroses , tigers are among the rich variety of animals rendered with great skill and liv eliness. Bronze and copper tools were standard, though stone tools manufactured according to the techniques of stone age continued in use. The pottery, painted in a wide variety of geometric designs and often with animal or vegetal motifs shows litt le variation, although they were locally made. Terracotta figures abound; some may or may not represent mother goddesses. Those in animal forms of which a wide variety exist are probably toys. The civilization has a strongly utilitarian flavour. The wide range of utensils concerned with crafts and domestic life, more often than not taken over from ea rlier cultures are competently designed and made but show little inventive flair except for the pottery. At the same time certain elements do foreshadow aspects of Indian civilization, its religious preoccupations and its particular aesthetic bent. Principal among these are evidences of proto-Sivas as exemplified by the so-called Pasupathy seal. Also undeniable is the splendidly naturalistic way full of sympathy and underst anding - in which so many of the animals are shown on the seals which finds ech o throughout most of the course of Indian art. III Materials and techniques used in the civilization are as follows : (in points) Clay Pottery shapes decoration bricks : sun burnt mud bricks, kiln burnt bricks Terracotta toys toilet cakes

Stone limestone, steatite, etc. Statuettes Seals Toys (occasionally) Metal bronze statuettes Mirror The various areas of their expertise is spelt out hereunder : Town planning lay out public structures and houses water supply drainage Design - public structure Great Bath , granary, citadel, dock yard facilities, planning and construction maintenance water proofing supply Maintenance Construction- brick and timber construction brick, bond, Strength and finish Water proofing Brick making & Pottery making shaping firing firing and smelting brick fianc stone cutting statuettes seals bronze metallurgy Smelting cire-perdue casting bead making shaping drilling IV Salient features of the Indus valley civilization are the following : geographically extensive central authority standardization _______________________________________________________________________