Introduction essay on the Ancient Indus Valley Civilization by Jonathan Mark Kenoyer. Explains the social, historical, and archaeological context
of the pictures or images of artifacts from Harappa (and other sites).

Credits

Photographs by Jonathan Mark Kenoyer and Richard H. Meadow, Co-Directors, Harappa Archaeological Research Project (HARP). Drs. Kenoyer and Meadow are shown here in front of Mound AB, Harappa, in 1996. All images are copyright and may not be reproduced for any commercial purpose without permission. They may be used for non-commercial educational and cultural purposes only. U… >

Introduction to Around the Indus in 90 Slides

The Indus Valley Civilization flourished in the vast river plains and adjacent regions in what are now Pakistan and western India. The earliest cities became integrated into an extensive urban culture around 4,600 years ago and continued to dominate the region for at least 700 years from 2600 to 1900 B.C. It was only in the 1920's that the buried cities and villages of the Indus valley were recognized by archaeologists as representing an undiscovered civilization. >

Around the Indus in 90 Slides Essay 2

The Indus Civilization (cont.) The urban expansion and increasing stratification of social classes in the Indus cities required the development of new forms of symbolic expression and new mechanisms for reinforcing social organization. The use of elaborate ornaments (77 Bangles, 78 Bangles, 79 Ornaments, 80 Belt, 81 Necklace, 82 Ornaments, 83 Glazed Tiles… >

Around the Indus in 90 Slides Essay 3

Research and Misconceptions Research on the Indus Valley Tradition has been going on since the first discovery of inscribed seals at Harappa in the late 1800’s, and scholars from all of the major countries of the world have been involved in this research. Major excavations were begun at the larger sites in the 1920’s and numerous excavations at smaller… >

Around the Indus in 90 Slides Essay 4

The Beginnings of Art, Symbol and Technology The Indus Valley civilization developed out of earlier farming and pastoral communities that inhabited the plains and western mountainous regions of Baluchistan and Afghanistan. These communities are referred to as pre- or Early Indus cultures and each had its own distinctive artistic style. These regional styles are most clearly… >

Around the Indus in 90 Slides Essay 5

Urban Character of the Indus Valley Civilization Around 2600 B.C.E. the various regional cultures were united in what is called the Indus Valley Civilization. It is also commonly referred to as the Harappan culture after the town of Harappa (Site Map) where it was first discovered. This civilization was organized around cities and towns that were located at major cross… >

Around the Indus in 90 Slides Essay 6

Environment and Subsistence These settlements are spread out over a vast and diverse geographical area (4 Fields, 5 Himalayas), from the lapis mining region in mountainous northern Afghanistan (6 Chitral), to the bountiful coasts of the Arabian Sea (1 Indus River) in the south. It stretched from the rugged highland pastures of Baluchistan in the west, to the mineral rich … >

Around the Indus in 90 Slides Essay 7

Utilitarian and Decorative Objects Indus artisans produced a wide range of utilitarian and decorative objects using specialized techniques of stone working, ceramics and metallurgy. Copper and bronze were used to make tools, mirrors, pots and pans (Slide 75 Cooking Vessel, 76 Plate). Bone, shell and ivory were turned into tools, jewelry, gaming pieces and especially furni… >

Around the Indus in 90 Slides Essay 8

Trade and Exchange The Indus cities were connected with rural agricultural communities and distant resource and mining areas through strong trade systems. They used pack animals (54 Bull figurine, 56 Bull, 58 Ram figurine), river boats (23 Toy boat, 24 Moulded tablet) and bullock carts (22 Toy carts) for transport. This trade is reflected in the widespread distribution … >