Indus Valley Civilization (India)
(3300 BC to 1300 BC)
What happened?
The Indus Valley Civilization stretched from what is today (2022) northeastern Afghanistan to Pakistan and northwestern India. It was one of the three early and widespread cradles of civilization. The other two were Egypt and Mesopotamia. The name refers to the Indus River system. The Indus Valley at its peak (2600 BC – 1900 BC), which included places like Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, may have had more than five million people. They developed new techniques in pottery, seal carving and metallurgy.
There was an extensive overseas trade network with western Asia. The spacious brick houses with storeys had their own bathrooms. The urban development was planned and had a common infrastructure such as sewage and water supply. The writing has not yet (2022) been deciphered. The language is unknown. The reason why civilization suddenly disappeared, and the inhabitants left the cities behind is not known. Civilization flourished in the Indus River basins. Drying out of the soil in the region may have been the impetus for its demise.
Archaeological records offer no certainty about the center of power. There is only evidence that complex decisions were made and implemented. Most cities were built uniformly and planned in a grid pattern. There was also uniformity of artifacts in pottery, seals, bricks, and weights. Therefore, it is suspected that there was one state. Each city had its own ruler, but everyone had equal status.
Archaeological finds include seals, gold jewelry and terracotta figurines. Various types of toys and games have also been found. They achieved great accuracy in measuring length, mass, and weight. They were one of the first to develop a system of uniform weights and measures. They produced copper, bronze, lead and tin.
Judging by their artifact distribution, the Indus civilization must have been heavily reliant on trade. It is thought that it was the first civilization to use wheeled transportation. They used bullock carts and boats, probably small craft, to mobilize and economically spread their trade network over a large area.
Climate change is said to have occurred due to increasing drought and cooling in the region. The water supply depended on the monsoons. The general weakening of the monsoon due to the cooling led to less extensive flooding. Flood farming therefore had a harder time. There is also evidence of earthquakes moving seaports more inland.
Found: Bajaur, Pakistan (JN0582)
Terracotta - Fertility Statue
± 3000 BC to ± 2000 BC
Terracotta figurines often include cows, bears, monkeys and dogs. The multiplicity of such images suggests religious images. The figurines are one of the richest sources of information about their civilization. They were modeled by hand and served as a means of communication and exchange. It provides insight into their social life.
The human and animal terracotta figurines vary in size from a few centimeters to 30 cm high. Traditionally, most statues are described as toys. Other objects such as carts and cots discovered next to the figurines reinforced that idea. Are these figures idols to be worshipped or charming representations of everyday life? The answer remains a mystery (2022).
The terracotta statue depicts a female figure from the Indus Valley in a stylized way. She is depicted with accentuated facial features. She has large eyes and ears, pronounced eyebrows, a protruding nose and thick lips. Her arms, from which her right one has broken off, are folded under her breasts. This probably points to a gesture of fertility and love. Three grooves adorn the bottom or base of the figurine. Earthly crusts stick to the surface as a few flakes.
Terracotta - Zebu Bull Idol
± 3000 BC to ± 2000 BC
The Zebu bull was depicted with its characteristic and distinctive hump, short stubby legs, and overly broad horns. The animal was a symbol of strength and leadership in the society of the Indus Valley. It can also stand for sacrificial animal. When the zebu bull is carved in stone, it represents the most powerful clan or top officials of the two cultures Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa.
The Zebu is the domesticated form of the Asian aurochs. Domestication of animals was a big step forward in the prehistory of man. It contributed to the emergence of more complex societies. Zebu cattle were the most common and most important livestock in South Asia. There are indications that the Indus Valley is the center of origin of zebu domestication. It is impossible to determine the exact location of origin.
Some of the zebu figurines found were decorated. They were a recurring theme in the decorative and ritual arts of civilization. The humpbacked bull is the most important worshiped animal. They also worshiped other gods, in the form of trees, animals, and humans.
The unicorn is the most common motif on Indus stamps. The mythical animal is traced back to this region, according to Greek and Roman sources.