Question

Write about the hidden treasure of Indus civilisation.

Answer 1

The Indus civilisation, also known as the Harappan civilisation, covers an area of over 1.5 million square kilometres in India and Pakistan.

• Planned Towns-

1. Fortification, well-planned streets and lanes and drainages can be observed in the Harappan towns.

2. The Harappans used baked and’unbaked bricks and stones for construction. 

3. A civic authority perhaps controlled the planning of the towns.

• Agriculture and Animal Domestication –

1. The Harappans practiced agriculture. They cultivated wheat, barley and various types of millets.
2. Pastoralism was also known to them. They reared cattle, sheep and goats.

• Metal, Tools and Weapons –

1. The Harappans used chert blades, copper objects and bone and ivory tools.
2. The tools and equipments such as points, chisels, needles, fishhooks, razors, weighing pans, mirror and antimony rods were made of bronze.

• Textiles and Ornaments –

1. The Harappans used metal and stone ornaments. They had knowledge of cotton and silk textiles.
2. They made camelian, copper and gold ornaments. Faience, stoneware and shell bangles were also used.

• Trade and Exchange –
  The mention of ‘Meluhha’ in the cuneiform inscriptions is considered to refer to the Indus region.

• Weights and Measures –
  The Harappans developed a system of proper weights and measures. Since they engaged in commercial transactions, they needed standard measures.

• Seals, Sealings and Scripts The seals from various media such as steatite, copper, terracotta and ivory are found in the Harappan sites. They were probably used in the trade activities.
• Arts and Amusement –

1. The terracotta figurines, paintings on the pottery and the bronze images from the Harappan sites suggest the artistic skills of the Harappans.
2. Toy carts, rattles, wheels, tops, marbles and hop scotches made in terracotta suggest the amusement of the Harappan people.

• Religion –

1. The Indus people had a close relationship with nature.
2. They worshipped pipal trees. Some of the terracotta figures resemble the mother Goddess