Harappa

This courtyard of a modern house in Harappa town, has an upper level in front of the house that is plastered and has a small entryway that can be blocked to keep out animals. Drinking water is kept in earthenware pots on a wooden stand. The lower le… >

One of the largest female figurines found at Harappa has a (badly broken) fan-shaped pannier headdress with black residue in the cups of the panniers and a forward-projecting face. She is heavily ornamented with an elaborate choker and two other nec… >

A few figurines are not clearly male or female, or even anthropomorphic or animal. One unusual recently discovered figurine has no clear sex characteristics. It does have two projections (broken off) that pointed forward from the back of the head as… >

Many of the feline figurines are depicted with collars around their necks (as with the rhinoceros). Rather than indicating that these large cats were tame, this symbol of domestication may have been used in rituals of sympathetic magic to obtain a s… >

Some terracotta figurines such as the unusual ithyphallic pot-bellied animal figurines with tails and holes through the shoulders for movable arms were probably used as toys or puppets. A few examples also have holes in their bases. Approximate … >

Corbeled drain at Mound ET gateway (3-D reconstruction and artist's conception). >

These giant ringstones are similar to ones found in Mohenjo-daro and Dholavira. Local legend claims they were the rings of a giant 17th century saint (Baba Nur Shah) who is buried on Mound AB. Early excavators believed that were significant to the a… >

Period 3A deposits, representing an early urban phase, exist beneath Mounds E and also show expansion onto the area beneath Mound AB. Growth in the city of Harappa is shown to be both lateral and vertical. >

A small fraction of Harappa has actually been excavated. Most of the site is untouched by the archaeologists tools. It may be that future non-invasive techniques like ground penetrating radar help us map out what remains under the soil. >

He continues, about perhaps one of the finest objects he found in 1921: "One pair of them attains a high degree of excellence. It is made of fine clay coloured blue. (No. A 182.) Plate IX, Photo No. 2759." - Daya Ram Sahni, Annual Progress Re… >