Lesson 14: Unlocking the Secrets of Mohenjodaro
What can artifacts tell us about daily life in Mohenjodaro?
What can artifacts tell us about daily life in Mohenjodaro?
Mohenjodaro was one of many settlements that were located in the Indus River valley. These settlements became known as the Indus valley civilization. It is also called the Harappan (huh- RAP-pen) civilization, after another city at that time, Harappa. The civilization flourished for about 800 years, from about 2700 B.C.E. to 1900 B.C.E.
Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa indicated the first moves of the Indus Valley civilization from an agricultural lifestyle to an urban life around 2600 B.C. These settlements are noted for brick-built and multistory buildings and roadside drainage systems.
Summary:
The Mystery of Mohenjodaro Historians and archaeologists continue to investigate what happened to this remarkable civilization.
Weights and Scale The discovery of standard weights, a scale, and marked rods suggest that the ancient Indians had a uniform way to measure weight and length.
The Great Bath The remains of a brick pool, well, and drain system, lead archaeologists to believe that people may have bathed in and used the pool in religious rituals.
Statue, Beads, and Seals Other interesting artifacts include a small statue of a man, a variety of stone beads, and stone seals carved with pictographs.
Sewer System A sewer system carried waste away from the city's buildings and into the Indus River. Both rich and poor people likely had homes with indoor bathrooms.
Homes Most people lived in the lower city in rows of 2-story houses made of mud bricks. These homes had between one and a dozen rooms.
Games As the discovery of game pieces and toys suggests, the people had time to play. Adults may have played an early form of chess.
Clay Models Archaeologists have found clay models that may have been toys. Some models reveal information about ways of farming and transporting goods to market.