"Animal figures, mostly in terracotta, have been found in very large numbers at Harappa. They are also fairly common in faience, specially the squirrels and rams, both of which were used as amulets.
The earliest animal figurines from Harappa are Early Harappan (Ravi Phase, Period 1 and Kot Diji Phase, Period 2) zebu figurines. They are typically very small with joined legs and stylized humps.
Some of the Early Harappan zebu figurines were decorated. One example has incised oval spots. It is also stained a deep red, an extreme example of the types of stains often found on figurines that are usually found in trash and waste deposits.
Daya Ram Sahni described these four objects as a "a terracotta dog (A 166), a ram (A 233) ; and two bulls (A 310 and C 14)" the latter of which he considered "nicely made" (p. 13, 26). The ram was found in the large earthen chati (A 233). He
Other animal and sometimes anthropomorphic figurines are decorated with black stripes and other patterns, and features such as eyes are also sometimes rendered in pigment.
Water buffalo are often similar to figurines of humpless cattle, except that the water buffalo figurines usually have large (and sometimes incised) backswept horns.
Approximate dimensions (W x H(L) x D): 6.0 x 8.0 x 6.0 cm.
Terra cotta figurine of a dog with a projecting collar. This type of collar is today often used on fighting dogs to protect their throats (H2000-4968/2165-52, Mound E, Trench 54).