Harappa to Lothal: The Excavation Map

Fact: The Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) was a Bronze Age society.
The most confusing part for students is remembering "Which artifact came from which city?".
Did the Dancing Girl come from Harappa or Mohenjo-Daro? Let's dig in.

1. The Twin Capitals

HARAPPA 1921

River: Ravi

Excavator: Daya Ram Sahni.

• 6 Granaries in a row.
• Coffin Burial (Only place with coffin).
• Stone symbol of Lingam and Yoni.
• Clay figures of Mother Goddess.

MOHENJO-DARO 1922

River: Indus

Meaning: "Mound of the Dead".

• Great Bath (Most famous structure).
• Bronze Dancing Girl.
• Pashupati Seal (Proto-Shiva).
• Bearded Priest Statue (Steatite).
• Piece of woven cotton.

2. Trade & Ritual Cities

LOTHAL Gujarat

River: Bhogava

Significance: The Port City.

• Artificial Dockyard (World's oldest?).
• Rice Husk (Evidence of Rice).
• Double Burial (Male & Female together).
• Terracotta model of a Ship.

KALIBANGAN Rajasthan

River: Ghaggar

Meaning: "Black Bangles".

• Ploughed Field (Earliest evidence).
• Fire Altars (Ritual significance).
• Camel Bones.
• No drainage system (Unlike other cities).

3. Unique Industrial Sites

DHOLAVIRA Gujarat

River: Luni

• Unique Layout: City divided into 3 parts (Citadel, Middle, Lower). Others had only 2.
• Water Harvesting System (Giant reservoirs).
• Signboard (10 large Indus script symbols).

CHANHUDARO Pakistan

River: Indus

Significance: The Factory Town.

• Bead Making Factory.
• Use of Lipstick (Cosmetics).
• Inkpot.
• Footprint of a dog chasing a cat.
• Only city without a Citadel (Fort).

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Revision Flashcards

Bronze Dancing Girl

Found at which site?

Mohenjo-Daro

It is a masterpiece of prehistoric craftsmanship.

Dockyard

Which city had a port?

Lothal

Located in Gujarat. It connected the Indus people to Mesopotamia.

Ploughed Field

Earliest evidence found where?

Kalibangan

(Rajasthan). Also famous for Fire Altars.

Water Reservoirs

Unique feature of?

Dholavira

They had the most advanced water conservation system of the ancient world.

Exam-Style MCQs

Q1. Which is the only Indus city without a citadel (fort)?

A) Kalibangan

B) Chanhudaro

Correct! It was an industrial town for artisans.

C) Lothal

Q2. The famous "Pashupati Seal" was found in:

A) Harappa

B) Mohenjo-Daro

Correct! It depicts a figure sitting in a yogic posture surrounded by animals.

C) Dholavira

Q3. Which site provided the evidence of "Double Burial"?

A) Lothal

Correct! A male and female buried together.

B) Banawali

C) Surkotada

Part of the Ancient History Revision Series.