Tag: other ancient civilizations of the world

The Indus Valley people were proficient in metallurgy, working with copper, bronze, gold, and lead. However, iron was not known to them, as it appeared in India much later.

The bull was the most depicted animal of the Indus Valley Civilization. It was depicted on their seals and tablets. These were Zebu Bull or humped cattle which were probably domesticated by the Harappans for agriculture. Along with Bull, Rhinoceros and Elephants were also depicted by them.

The development of spinning and weaving is associated with the Neolithic Age, as this period saw the transition to settled agriculture and the production of textiles.

Harappan culture is recognized for advanced metallurgical techniques. Archaeologists have discovered usage of copper, bronze, tin, silver and gold. It was the first time that silver was extracted and used in Indus valley Civilisation. Its usage was mainly in the ornaments such as hair beads, necklace etc. Though it was also hammered to form thin sheets which could have been used to garnish eatables such as sweets. 

Chanhudaro is often referred to as the 'factory town' of the Indus Valley Civilization because of the extensive evidence of bead-making, shell-working, and seal-making workshops found there.

A seal referred to as Pashupati Seal found in Mohenjo-daro depicts a central human figure surrounded by four wild animals, an elephant and tiger on one side and a rhinoceros and a buffalo on the other side. Below the dais are two deer. He is believed to be the central deity and presumed to be earlier depiction of Lord Shiva.

People of Harappan civilisation had domesticated a wide variety of animals. It included camel, buffalo, sheep, dog, pig, oxen etc. Camels were used as a means of transportation while Oxen was used by farming community for cultivation. Dogs and cats were kept as pets. Other animal such as buffaloes and pigs were used as source of food. We came to know about the domesticated animals through their presence on seals and pictures engraved on tablets. Interestingly there is no evidence of Horses being domesticated during harappan period. 

The Pipal tree or Acasia tree was worshipped as the tree of life which was defended by guardian spirits (such as bull, snake or goat) against evil forces such as a tiger. Artistic sense of people is visible in seals, ornaments, clay and bronze figurines. Great Bath or Public pools have been excavated at Mohan-jodaro as well as Dholavira which indicates toward a ritualistic purification bath ceremony observed by resident of Harappan civilisation.

Most Indus Valley cities, such as Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa, featured houses with entrances opening into side lanes to avoid dust and noise from main streets. Lothal is a notable exception where houses often opened onto the main streets.