Kot Diji phase steatite disc beads
This set of steatite disc beads, each about 1 cm in diameter, were found in the Kot Diji phase street and appear to be a necklace segment that was lost in the trash. The manufacturing marks are clearly visible.
HARP (Harappa Archaeological Research Project) a group of scholars from a variety of fields dedicated to advancing the study of the ancient Indus Valley civilization.
Gold Disc
Fired steatite beads appear to have been extremely important to the Indus people because they were incorporated into exquisite ornaments, such as this "eye bead" made of gold with steatite inlay found in 1995 at Harappa [Harappa Phase].
Harappa domestic structures with hearths and large jar
Inside the city wall were domestic structures with hearths and large jars, part of structures that had encroached onto what used to be street along the inner face of the wall (Trench 41NE).
Gold bead collection
A collection of gold beads, three of which (UL, UR, LL) have copper-alloy in their interiors. The corroding copper often breaks the softer gold foil (Mound E, Trench 54).
Kot Diji phase gold sequins
Gold sequins found in the Kot Diji phase street suggest that some people were wearing clothing or paraphernalia decorated with rare and presumably costly materials.
"Priest King" Forehead
The central ornament worn on the forehead of the famous "priest-king" sculpture from Mohenjo-daro appears to represent an eye bead, possibly made of gold with steatite inlay in the center.
Detail of Harappa domestic structures
Detail of domestic structures with hearths and large jars set into the floor (Trench 41 NE).
Two gold beads
These two gold bead were originally part of the same ornament. Thin gold foil was placed over the outside of a sandy core around a copper tube (H2000-4382/2087-02, Mound E, Trench 54).
Kot Diji phase raw materials
During the Kot Diji phase many new types of raw material were brought to Harappa for making ornaments and tools, indicating expanded trade networks and suggesting a growing population of consumers.
Ancient Indus Jewellery
Fired steatite was an important material used in many different types of Indus jewelry. Steatite beads are found in all four necklaces in the center of this collection of jewelry from Harappa and Mohenjo-daro.