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WHAT IS THE STORY OF INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION?
The Indus Valley Civilization was a Bronze Age civilization in the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent, consisting mainly of what is now Pakistan, and parts of India, Afghanistan and Iran. The civilization was spread over some 1,260,000 km², making it the largest known ancient civilization. The Indus Valley is one of the world's earliest urban civilizations, along with its contemporaries, Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt. Nearly a hundred and fifty years ago, when railway lines were being laid down for the first time in the Punjab, engineers stumbled upon the site of Harappa in present-day Pakistan.

Many of these cities were divided into two or more parts. Usually, the part to the West was smaller but higher. Archaeologists describe this as the citadel. The part to the East was larger but lower. This is called the lower town. Very often walls of baked brick were built around each part. The bricks were so well made that they have lasted for thousands of years. The bricks were laid in an interlocking pattern and that made the walls strong. In
Mohenjodaro, a very special tank, which archaeologists call the Great Bath, was built in this area. Other cities, such as Kalibangan and Lothal had fire altars, where sacrifices may have been performed. And some cities like Mohenjodaro, Harappa, and Lothal had elaborate store houses. Generally, houses were either one or two storeys high, with rooms built around a courtyard. Most houses had a separate bathing area, and some had wells to supply water. Many of these cities had covered drains.

A Harappan city was a very busy place. There were people who planned the construction of special buildings in the city. It is likely that the rulers sent people to distant lands to get metal, precious stones, and other things that they wanted. And there were scribes, people who knew how to write, who helped prepare the seals, and perhaps wrote on other materials that have not survived. Besides, there were men and women, crafts persons, making all kinds of things — either in their own homes, or in special workshops. People were travelling to distant lands or returning with raw materials and, perhaps, stories. Many terracotta toys have been found and a long time ago children must have played with these.

Most of the things that have been found by archaeologists are made of stone, shell and metal, including copper, bronze, gold and silver. Copper and bronze were used to make tools, weapons, ornaments and vessels.
Gold and silver were used to make ornaments and vessels. Perhaps the most striking finds are those of beads, weights, and blades.

The Harappans also made pots with beautiful black designs. Cotton was probably grown at Mehrgarh from about 7000 years ago. Actual pieces of cloth were found attached to the lid of a silver vase and some copper objects at Mohenjodaro. Archaeologists have also found spindle whorls, made of terracotta and faience. These were used to spin thread.

The Harappans grew wheat, barley, pulses, peas, rice, sesame, linseed and mustard. A new tool, the plough, was used to dig the earth for turning the soil and planting seeds. The Harappans reared cattle, sheep, goat and buffalo. Water and pastures were available around settlements.


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