Indus valley civilization short notes for SSC Exam 2021
Indus valley civilization is the oldest civilization of ancient India back to 2500 BC to 1750 BC. The first discovered site of this civilization was Harappa which was situated on Ravi river in today's punjab province of Pakistan. This site was excavated by Daya ram Sahni in 1921. Another major and important site of this civilization was mohenjodaro which was situated on Indus river in larkana district of Pakistan and was excavated by RD Banerjee in 1922.
Including these sites some of other major sites are lothal in Gujarat (India) excavated by S.R Rao in 1954. Dholavira(Gujarat) and kalibanga (Rajasthan)
Sites and their location
- The northern most site of Indus valley civilization was Manda (Jammu and Kashmir)
- The southern most site of Indus valley civilization was Daimabad(Maharashtra)
- The eastern most site was Alamgirpur (Uttar Pradesh)
The western most site of the Indus valley civilization was Sutkagendor (Baluchistan)
Site and their Archaeological Finds
Harappa
- 6 Granaries in a row
- Stone symbols of lingam and yoni
- Painted pottery & copper scale
- Clay figures of mother goddess
- Working floors
Mohanjodaro
- Great Granary
- Great bath and Assembly hall
- Pashupati seal
- Bronze image of a nude woman dancer
- Steatite image of bearded man
- Human skeleton
Lothal
- Dockyard
- Rice husk
- Fire alters and metal workers
- Terracotta figure of a horse
- Double burial
Dholavira
- Water harness system
- Drainage system
- A large well and stadium
- Harappan inscription
Important points to remember
- The oldest script in indian subcontinent is the Harappan script.
- Steatite was mainly used in the manufacturing of seals.
- The origin of the swastik symbol can be traced to the Indus valley civilization.
- The majority of scholars believe that the makers of this civilization were Dravidian.
- Mohanjodaro is also known as the ' Mound of Dead'
Main crops of Indus valley civilization
Wheat and barley evidence of cultivation of rice in lothal and rangpur (Gujarat) only. Indus people were the first to produce cotton in the world.
- Surkotada (Gujarat) was the only Indus site where the remains of a horse have actually been found.
- Iron was not known to the people
- Lothal was the ancient port of the Indus valley civilization
- Cotton was primarily known as sindon in Indus valley civilization
Shiva- shakti worship the oldest form of worship in India appears to be the religious beliefs of the civilization.
The common features of major cities of Indus valley civilization was Systematic town planning on the lines grid system. Use of burnt bricks in construction were commanly used, underground drainage system was active in dholavira of Gujarat.
Sheep, goat humped and bull, buffalo, boar, dog cat, pig, deer, tortoise, elephant, camel, and rhinoceros were the animals used in this civilization.
The most important part of this civilization was Pashupati mahadeva seal. Pashupati mahadeva is the lord of animals represented in sealsas sitting in yogic posture. He is surrounded by four animals( elephant, tiger, rhino and buffalo) and two deer appear at his feet because there was the importance of lingam worship at that time.
Note for students
In this article I have put all the necessary and important information about the Indus valley civilization which will help the students in competitive exams. As my point of view if you just read this article point by point so you can attempt all the questions asked from this topic.
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