Settlement Features Of

Indus Valley Civilization

Prince Goyal

1211101119 sec – B

PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN

SETTLEMENT

Contents Division of Settlement

Introduction to Indus Valley Civilization

Division Of Harappan Civilization

Town Planning Features of Harappans

Layout Of Harappan City

The Citadels

The Lower Town

The Great Bath

Granaries

The Drainage System

Harappan Wells

Courtyards

Streets

Nature of Harappan Cities

Typical and atypical aspects of the civilisation

Bibliography

Settlement

Introduction

The Harappan culture flourished in the Indus and

adjoining river valleys during the second half of the

third millennium BCE(2600 B.C–1900 BC).

Harappan civilization was discovered in 1920–22 when

two of its most important sites were excavated. On the

basis of the archaeological findings the Harappancivilization has been dated between 2600 B.C–1900

BC and is one of the oldest civilizations of the world.

It is also sometimes referred to as the ‘Indus Valley

civilization’ because in the beginning majority of itssettlements discovered were in and around the

+plains of the river Indus and its tributaries.

The Harappan civilization developed gradually from earlier Neolithic village cultures. It is believed that the better technology to exploit the fertile plains of river Indus might have resulted in increased agricultural production.

Urbanism requires needs to work against the naturalentropic forces that will not occur without significantcost benefits.

They rise due to:– Increased crop productivity and favourable climatic

conditions, to create necessary surpluses for specialisation,

– New social strategies,– Large labour force.

Harappan cities are known for being a part of a cluster of smaller sites that seem to have had a symbiotic relation with each other.

Their population density seems to be self limiting by resources and links with the rural environment.

Mohenjo-daro : aerial view

Harappan civilization is in fact divided into

three phases: Early Harappan phase (3500 BC–2600 BC) –

it was marked by some town-planning in

the form of mud structures, elementary

trade, arts and crafts, etc.

Mature Harappan phase (2600 BC–1900

BC) – it was the period in which we notice

well developed towns with burnt brick

structures, inland and foreign trade, crafts

of various types, etc.

Late Harappan phase (1900 BC–1400 BC) –

it was the phase of decline during which

many cities were abandoned and the

trade disappeared leading to the gradual

decay of the significant urban traits.

TOWN PLANNING FEATURES OF

HARAPPANS The most interesting urban feature of

Harappan civilization is its town-planning.

Almost all the major sites (Harappa,

Mohenjodaro, Kalibangan and others),

are divided into two parts– a Citadel on

higher mound on the western side and

a lower town on the eastern side of the

settlement. The citadel contain large

structures which might have functioned

as administrative or ritual centres. The

residential buildings are built in the lower

town.

The main streets of the cities at

both Harappa and Mohen-jo-daro

were generally oriented from north

to south, with connecting streets

running East to West, The streets of

major cities such as Mohen-jo-daro

and Harappa were also laid out in

a perfect grid pattern, The street

layout showed an understanding

of the basic principles of traffic,

with rounded corners to allow the

turning of carts easily. These streets

divided the city into 12 blocks

Mud Bricks were largely used at Harappa,Kalibangan, Lothal and Banawali besides burntbricks. The size of bricks remained the sameeverywhere.

The ratio of brick size was 1:2:4. Other fortifiedsites of this culture were at Sutkogendor, AliMurad,Ghazi Shah and Daburkot etc.

Except for the west-central blocks, the basic unitof city planning was the individual house. Bricks offixed sizes were used for building while stone andwood were also used. Buildings in the lower areawere rather monotonous, being mainly functional.

The average house in these ancient cities

appeared to have stood at least two storeys

high(suggested by the thickness of the enclosing

wall) & by remnants of wide staircases where the

steps and risers still survive to considerable height

from the occupation level on the ground floor.

The houses were built on plinths rising above the

street level with flights of steps recessed in the wall

at the front door. The doors of the houses usually

opened on to the side lanes rather than on to the

main streets.

LAYOUT OF HARAPPAN CITY

The Citadels

The existence of a theocratic and

authoritarian society indicated by the

presence of large and well-fortified citadels in

each of the capital cities. These citadels

always face west which served as sanctuaries

for the cities populations in times of attack

and as community centres in times of peace.

The citadel at Harappa measuring 1400 ft. x

600 ft. on mound 40 ft. high which faced

foundation with brick embankment 45 ft.

thick. The citadel at Mohen-jo-daro included

a very large building that may have been a

palace.

The Lower Town

The Lower Town was also walled. Several buildings

were built on platforms, which served as

foundations. It has been calculated that if one

labourer moved roughly a cubic metre of earth

daily, just to put the foundations in place it would

have required four million person-days, in other

words, mobilising labour on a very large scale.

Consider something else. Once the platforms were

in place, all building activity within the city was

restricted to a fixed area on the platforms. So it

seems that the settlement was first planned and

then implemented accordingly. Other signs of

planning include bricks, which, whether sun-dried

or baked, were of a standardised ratio, where the

length and breadth were four times and twice the

height respectively. Such bricks were used at all

Harappan settlements.

The great bath at Mohen-jo-daro hadwaterproofed with bitumen. Brickcolonnades were discovered on theeastern, northern and southern edges.The preserved columns have steppededges that may have been used tohold wooden screens or windowframes. Two large doors lead into thecomplex from the south and otherentrance was from the directions ofnorth and east. A series of rooms arelocated along the eastern edge of thebuilding and in one room is a well thatmay have supplied some of the waterneeded to fill the tank. Rainwater alsomay have been collected for thispurposes, but no inlet drains are seen.

DIMENSION OF THE GREAT BATH – 12mX7mX 2.4m(depth)

The Great Bath

Large granaries were located near each ofthe citadels, which suggest that the statestored grain for ceremonial purposes, timesof shortage, and possibly the regulation ofgrain production and sale.

Built on top of a tapered brick platform, thisbuilding had a solid brick foundation thatextended for 50 meters east west and 27meters north south. The foundation wasdivided into 27 square and rectangularblocks by narrow passageways, tworunning east west and eight running northsouth. A section of the northern foundationhad hollow sockets for wooden beamsused to support a stairway or woodenstructure. Later wells and walls are seen inthe foreground.

The eroding wells and a wall built upagainst the granary show that much of thearea to the north of the granary was filledwith debris and later buildings.

GRANARIES

THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM

The Indus civilization had an elaborate

sanitary and drainage system, the hallmark

of ancient Indus cities .Each and every

house had a connection with the main

drain. These even had inspection holes for

maintenance. The conduits to the main

drains running through the middle of the

streets below pavement level and covered

with flat stones and sturdy tile bricks. The

covered drain was connected to the larger

sewerage outlets which finally led the dirty

water outside the populated areas. The

urban plan found in these cities included

the world`s first urban sanitation systems.

The elaborate brick-lined drainage system

for the removal of rainwater is of

unparalleled engineering skill.

Toilets would have been an essential feature in Mohen-jo-daro, but the early

excavators identified most toilets as post-cremation burial urns or sump pots. This

brick structure had a hole in the top that was connected to a small drain leading

out of the base into a rectangular basin (not reconstructed). Early excavators

suggested this might have been a toilet.

Two structure with a hole and drain located are thought to have been toilets.

While these two structures may have been unique examples of toilets, most

people would have used old pots set into the ground as commodes.

Harappan Wells Wells were made with wedge shaped bricks to make a

strong circular structure. Some bricks were made withspecial grooves to keep the ropes from sliding sidewayswhen drawing water.

Public wells- Although most wells were located insideprivate buildings, the city planners of Mohenjo Daroprovided some public wells that could be accessed directlyfrom the main street.

Well & platform- well was associated with a finelyconstructed bathing platform. A stairway leads up to thewell and platform from a lower room. The walls and wellhave been covered with mud brick and sprayed with clayslurry to protect them from salt crystallization.

Each block of buildings at Mohenjo-Daro was supplied withone or more wells. When archaeologists excavated the fillaround the well they were left standing to show the finallevels of use

Courtyards Large Courtyard-

In some neighborhoods, largecourtyards were connected tonumerous smaller buildings built atdifferent levels. The pilastered wall onthe left supported houses at a higherlevel. A large corbelled arch drain thatwas later blocked is seen emerging froma wall in the background.

Street leading to the Stairs-

This room in the figure was made with bricks set on

edge to create a watertight floor. A small well was

located in the southeast corner (top right) and

circular brick depressions were set into the floor,

presumably to hold pottery vessels. The early

excavators suggested that the room might have

been a dyer's workshop.

STREETS First Street-

Looking north along First

Street. The area to the left

has been fully excavated

and the area to the right is

unexcavated. Later street

levels are seen in the

background.

Narrow streets and drains-

The streets and alleyways wind

through the neighborhood and

are oriented along a strict grid

plan.

Street leading to the Stairs-

Some houses had small

staircases leading to a second

story or to a platform for

pouring water into a bathing

area.

Nature of Harappan cities

Urbanism requires needs to work against the natural entropic forces

that will not occur without significant cost benefits.

They rise due to:– Increased crop productivity and favourable climatic

conditions, to create necessary surpluses for specialisation,

– New social strategies,

– Large labour force.

Harappan cities are known for being a part of a cluster of smaller

sites that seem to have had a symbiotic relation with each other.

Their population density seems to be self limiting by resources and

links with the rural environment.

Typical & Atypical Aspects Of The

Civilisation

Typical characteristics:

– Large urban centres surrounded by smaller settlements.

– Special residential sites for some very important persons.

– Very standard housing size well designed for the environment.

Atypical characteristic:

– No evidence of large scale army and little evidence of conflict or conquest.

– No evidence of grandiose structure.

– No evidence of central important to religion.

– High level of voluntary standardisation over an impossibly large area.

– Large cities with well planned amenities.

Bibliography www.Harappa.com

www.mohenjodaro.net

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indus_Valley_Civilization

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohenjo-daro

PDF found on internet published by N.C.E.R.T. (www.ncert.nic.in/ncerts/l/lehs101.pdf)

History book found on website (http://www.9ia.info/reading/history-book-l03-national-institute-of-open-schooling-CpGb.html)

Image Courtesy– slideshare presentation “indusvalley-110928070926-phpapp02”

Book Reference-(docs.google.com/file/d/0BwsSIXQVeAtBeFZ1QkJkMTFHOFU/edit?usp=drive_web)

Book Reference-(docs.google.com/file/d/0BwsSIXQVeAtBakpvYlhPZFR4R3M/edit?usp=drive_web)

Website Reference- reference.indianetzone.com/1/town_planning.htm

www.slideshare.net/mathewsdijo/indus-valley-civilization-37593226?qid=fa740378-034b-4eca-ae76-4bb29983fb5b&v=default&b=&from_search=7

THANK YOU.

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