Question

Are there other structures on the Citadel apart from the warehouse and the Great Bath?

Answer 1

Yes, there are several other major structures on the Citadel besides the warehouse and the Great Bath. Archaeological excavations at Mohenjo-daro and other Indus Valley sites have revealed that the elevated Citadel area hosted multiple buildings meant for administrative, religious, or elite purposes:

1. The Assembly Hall / Pillared Hall: A massive, square public building featuring twenty brick pillars arranged in rows. It is believed to have functioned as a communal town hall, a court of law, or an administrative assembly area.
2. The “College of Priests”: A large, complex multi-roomed building located adjacent to the Great Bath. Due to its close proximity to the ritual tank, historians suggest it was a residential complex for the ruling priests or high-ranking religious officials.
3. Elite Residential Quarters: Several sprawling, thick-walled structures with multiple rooms and private wells, indicating that the ruling elite, administrative chiefs, or merchants lived directly within the protected Citadel zone.
4. Ritual Fire Altars: While not found at Mohenjo-daro, Citadels at other prominent Harappan sites like Kalibangan and Lothal feature mud-brick platforms with specialised pits containing charcoal and animal bones, acting as sites for ritual sacrifices or fire worship.