Harappa

Harappa, Punjab ancient Indus civilization excavations, figurines, seals and other objects.

Plan of Vat's excavations showing circular platforms. In some cases remnants of the baked brick walls that probably surrounded each platform can be seen on the plan, although earlier and later walls are also shown. From M.S. Vats (1940) Excavations … >

Plan view of Trench 39N Kot Diji phase levels (Period 2: 2800-2600 BC) with locations noted for major finds: sealing, elephant seal, inscribed sherds, limestone weight. This area appears to have been a street running between mud-brick structures. Ha… >

In Kot Diji phase sediment that had washed into the street, Brad Chase discovered a button seal (close-up in 44) quite similar to seals recovered from the site of Rehman Dheri in to the Northwest in the Gomal Valley. >

Ashy debris deposits continued to accumulate outside of the perimeter wall, covering the curtain wall. These date to the end of Harappa Period 3B and the beginning of Period 3C. The area continued to be devoid of structures, although what later … >

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… >