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The people of the Indus The people of the Indus

An advanced civilization from An advanced civilization from nearly 4000 years agonearly 4000 years ago

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What I want you to notice isWhat I want you to notice is These people were living in the same time These people were living in the same time

as the as the Bronze AgeBronze Age was first beginning in was first beginning in BritainBritain

In Britain, they did not have citiesIn Britain, they did not have cities They did not have proper government and They did not have proper government and

were not very organisedwere not very organised They still lived in small groupsThey still lived in small groups

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I also want you to notice …I also want you to notice … ..how often it says archaeologists think …..how often it says archaeologists think … This is because they can only guess about This is because they can only guess about

quite a few things quite a few things They only have the evidence from the things They only have the evidence from the things

they findthey find There are no written records (at least not There are no written records (at least not

ones we can read) – see laterones we can read) – see later

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Where is the Indus?Where is the Indus?

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This is south-east Asia. You can see the borders between This is south-east Asia. You can see the borders between Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. The Lost City of Mohenjo-Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. The Lost City of Mohenjo-Daro is in the Indus valley.Daro is in the Indus valley.

The Indus civilisation existed in this area between 2600 and The Indus civilisation existed in this area between 2600 and 1900 BC. 1900 BC.

It was spread across Pakistan, India and parts of Afghanistan. It was spread across Pakistan, India and parts of Afghanistan. This area was four times bigger than the whole of the UK! This area was four times bigger than the whole of the UK!

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This map shows the physical This map shows the physical features of the area. features of the area.

Thar desertThar desert: is a very hot : is a very hot place. It is difficult for people place. It is difficult for people and animals to live here.and animals to live here.

Arabian SeaArabian Sea: : People have People have used boats to fish and trade used boats to fish and trade on the Arabian Sea for on the Arabian Sea for thousands of years. thousands of years.

Himalayan mountain Himalayan mountain rangerange: : has some of the has some of the world's highest mountains. world's highest mountains. They are covered in snow all They are covered in snow all year long. Every spring, the year long. Every spring, the mountain snows melted and mountain snows melted and the river flooded. When the the river flooded. When the water drained away, it left water drained away, it left behind a rich mud. This was behind a rich mud. This was good for planting crops. good for planting crops.

HighlandsHighlands: The Indus valley has : The Indus valley has highlands to the west and north. highlands to the west and north. Valuable wood, mineral and Valuable wood, mineral and metal resources were found here metal resources were found here and transported to Mohenjo-Daro.and transported to Mohenjo-Daro.

Indus riverIndus river: rises: rises in the snowy in the snowy mountains of the Himalayas. It mountains of the Himalayas. It flows down to the hot, dry lands flows down to the hot, dry lands below. below.

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This map shows some settlements This map shows some settlements in the Indus Valley. There are three in the Indus Valley. There are three main cities. main cities.

LothalLothal: It may have been an : It may have been an important port city. The traders who important port city. The traders who lived here probably sent precious lived here probably sent precious beads, ivory and jewellery to beads, ivory and jewellery to faraway lands. faraway lands.

HarappaHarappa: It was first excavated by : It was first excavated by archaeologists in 1920. Over 30,000 archaeologists in 1920. Over 30,000 people may have lived here.people may have lived here.

Mohenjo-DaroMohenjo-Daro: means 'Mound of : means 'Mound of the Dead'. Nobody lives there now. the Dead'. Nobody lives there now. It is the biggest settlement to have It is the biggest settlement to have been discovered in the Indus Valley. been discovered in the Indus Valley.

It covers about 1.5 square It covers about 1.5 square kilometres. Archaeologists believe kilometres. Archaeologists believe over 35,000 people lived here.over 35,000 people lived here.

Note that no-one knows what these

people called themselves nor what names they gave to the cities. They did

have a script but we do not know what it

says!(see later on)

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This is an This is an aerial photographaerial photograph of Mohenjo- of Mohenjo-Daro.Daro.

Archaeologists often take aerial photographs Archaeologists often take aerial photographs of the sites they are investigating. This helps of the sites they are investigating. This helps them study the site and surrounding area.them study the site and surrounding area.

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Mohenjo-Daro. 4 different famous Mohenjo-Daro. 4 different famous archaeologists have visited the archaeologists have visited the site and worked theresite and worked there

VS AreaVS Area - named after MS Vats; - named after MS Vats; DK AreaDK Area - named after KN - named after KN Dikshit; Dikshit; HR areaHR area - named after H - named after H Hargreaves; Hargreaves; SD areaSD area - named - named after AD Siddiqiafter AD Siddiqi

citadel/moundcitadel/mound : :This is a big This is a big mound. Large and important mound. Large and important buildings have been discovered buildings have been discovered here. Some archaeologists here. Some archaeologists called it the called it the CitadelCitadel. Now most . Now most archaeologists don't think it was archaeologists don't think it was fortified.fortified.

Lower townLower town: : Archaeologists Archaeologists named this area Lower town. named this area Lower town. The streets and buildings here The streets and buildings here look as if they were built to a look as if they were built to a plan. Only part of Lower town plan. Only part of Lower town has been excavated.has been excavated.

First streetFirst street: : This seems to be This seems to be the longest and widest street in the longest and widest street in Mohenjo-Daro. Archaeologists Mohenjo-Daro. Archaeologists called it First street.called it First street.

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First street is 10 metres wide in places. Even First street is 10 metres wide in places. Even after about 4000 years the house walls are after about 4000 years the house walls are still standing! still standing!

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The bricks used for building house walls were often The bricks used for building house walls were often made of mud and dried in the sun. This type of made of mud and dried in the sun. This type of brick kept the house cool.brick kept the house cool.

Many bricks were fired in Many bricks were fired in kilnskilns to make them to make them stronger. They were used for foundations, lower stronger. They were used for foundations, lower walls, large buildings, drains and wells. walls, large buildings, drains and wells.

The bricks we use today are made in much the The bricks we use today are made in much the same way!same way!

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These are excavated houses. You can see the These are excavated houses. You can see the different rooms. different rooms.

There are spaces where there used to be There are spaces where there used to be windows and doors. windows and doors.

There are big and small houses in Mohenjo-There are big and small houses in Mohenjo-Daro. Daro.

Most houses had drains to take away dirty Most houses had drains to take away dirty water, like our houses today.water, like our houses today.

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Many houses had wells for fresh drinking Many houses had wells for fresh drinking water. See how the wedge-shaped bricks water. See how the wedge-shaped bricks were placed closely together.were placed closely together.

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Narrow drains can be found in the streets Narrow drains can be found in the streets and alleyways of Mohenjo-Daro.and alleyways of Mohenjo-Daro.

DrainsDrains were built with a slight slope. This were built with a slight slope. This allowed water to drain away from the city. allowed water to drain away from the city. Solid waste collected in square brick pits.Solid waste collected in square brick pits.

Some drains had coversSome drains had covers - just like our - just like our drains today.drains today.

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This is a large underground drain. In This is a large underground drain. In Mohenjo-Daro, some drains were big Mohenjo-Daro, some drains were big enough for people to walk in. enough for people to walk in.

This was so that they could be unblocked. This was so that they could be unblocked. People still have to do this nasty job in our People still have to do this nasty job in our

drains today!drains today!

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ArtifactsArtifacts An An artefactartefact is an object that has been made by a is an object that has been made by a

person. person. Archaeologists use artefacts to learn about the Archaeologists use artefacts to learn about the

past. past. Archaeologists brush gently uncover hidden Archaeologists brush gently uncover hidden

artefacts without damaging them.artefacts without damaging them. When an artefact is discovered, it is photographed.When an artefact is discovered, it is photographed. A photograph is a reliable record of the find. A photograph is a reliable record of the find. Its position (its horizontal position and its depth) Its position (its horizontal position and its depth)

are carefully recordedare carefully recorded This is because as objects are dropped, the floor This is because as objects are dropped, the floor

level builds up and the depth is a good indication of level builds up and the depth is a good indication of ageage

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WeightsWeightsThese weights were found in Mohenjo-Daro.These weights were found in Mohenjo-Daro.

Archaeologists think that traders used them to Archaeologists think that traders used them to measure the goods they traded.measure the goods they traded.

Precious goods like gold or beads may have been Precious goods like gold or beads may have been weighed using the smallest weights.weighed using the smallest weights.

The biggest weights may have been to weigh The biggest weights may have been to weigh heavier goods like sacks of grain. heavier goods like sacks of grain.

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Elephant sealElephant sealThis seal was found in Mohenjo-Daro. It is about This seal was found in Mohenjo-Daro. It is about the size of a large postage stamp.the size of a large postage stamp.

Seals were used to make an impression on wet Seals were used to make an impression on wet clay. clay.

There is an elephant on the seal. Other animals There is an elephant on the seal. Other animals such as crocodiles, bulls and tigers were carved on such as crocodiles, bulls and tigers were carved on seals. seals.

Archaeologists believe that the signs carved along Archaeologists believe that the signs carved along the top are the Indus writing. the top are the Indus writing.

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Terracotta figurineTerracotta figurineThis figurine was found in Mohenjo-Daro. It is 18.7 This figurine was found in Mohenjo-Daro. It is 18.7 cm tall and 9.5 cm widecm tall and 9.5 cm wide

It is made of terracotta, which is clay. Clay was It is made of terracotta, which is clay. Clay was plentiful. It's great for making things. plentiful. It's great for making things.

The figurine is of a woman, wearing lots of The figurine is of a woman, wearing lots of jewellery.jewellery.

Some archaeologists think that this figurine shows Some archaeologists think that this figurine shows a woman dressed for a special occasion.a woman dressed for a special occasion.

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NecklaceNecklace This necklace was found in Mohenjo-Daro. It is 18 This necklace was found in Mohenjo-Daro. It is 18

cms long.cms long. It would have taken a highly-skilled craft worker a It would have taken a highly-skilled craft worker a

long time to make it.long time to make it. It is made of gold beads and green stone beads, It is made of gold beads and green stone beads,

which were rare and valuable.which were rare and valuable. It was probably worn by a rich woman. It was probably worn by a rich woman.

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Model cartModel cart This model cart was found in Mohenjo-Daro. It was probably This model cart was found in Mohenjo-Daro. It was probably a toya toy

It was put together with animal and human figurines for an It was put together with animal and human figurines for an exhibition. It is 19 cms long.exhibition. It is 19 cms long.

It is made of terracotta. It is made of terracotta. Full-size wooden carts rotted away.Full-size wooden carts rotted away. It is likely that bullocks pulled the full-size carts. Farmers in It is likely that bullocks pulled the full-size carts. Farmers in

the Indus valley still use carts and bullocks because they the Indus valley still use carts and bullocks because they move easily in a field.move easily in a field.

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The people of the Indus had a scriptThe people of the Indus had a script But so far no-one can agree But so far no-one can agree

about what the symbols about what the symbols meanmean

What do you think?What do you think?

A cow or a jar with

handles?

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Now you are going to look at a story Now you are going to look at a story about a boyabout a boy

Each page will look like thisEach page will look like this You need to click on each You need to click on each

picture to see what it tells picture to see what it tells youyou

This will help you answer This will help you answer the questions on the sheet the questions on the sheet I have sent youI have sent you

http://http://www.ancientindia.co.uk/www.ancientindia.co.uk/indus/home_set.html is the indus/home_set.html is the link and then click on ‘story’link and then click on ‘story’

The boy opened his eyes to the warm morning sun. He watched it sneak across the hard earth floor of his room and up the plastered walls. In the corner of the room he could see his toy cart. It was filled with small jars and looked as if it was ready for a journey. The boy smiled. It was market day today and he would go with his father to the marketplace. There his father would trade his beads with the travelling merchants.

You might like to look You might like to look at ‘explore’ laterat ‘explore’ later

You will see some You will see some things you have already things you have already learnt and some other learnt and some other things that are new things that are new ideasideas