settlement features of indus valley civilisation
TRANSCRIPT
Settlement Features Of
Indus Valley Civilization
Prince Goyal
1211101119 sec – B
PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN
SETTLEMENT
Contents Division of Settlement
Introduction to Indus Valley Civilization
Division Of Harappan Civilization
Town Planning Features of Harappans
Layout Of Harappan City
The Citadels
The Lower Town
The Great Bath
Granaries
The Drainage System
Harappan Wells
Courtyards
Streets
Nature of Harappan Cities
Typical and atypical aspects of the civilisation
Bibliography
Settlement
Introduction
The Harappan culture flourished in the Indus and
adjoining river valleys during the second half of the
third millennium BCE(2600 B.C–1900 BC).
Harappan civilization was discovered in 1920–22 when
two of its most important sites were excavated. On the
basis of the archaeological findings the Harappancivilization has been dated between 2600 B.C–1900
BC and is one of the oldest civilizations of the world.
It is also sometimes referred to as the ‘Indus Valley
civilization’ because in the beginning majority of itssettlements discovered were in and around the
+plains of the river Indus and its tributaries.
The Harappan civilization developed gradually from earlier Neolithic village cultures. It is believed that the better technology to exploit the fertile plains of river Indus might have resulted in increased agricultural production.
Urbanism requires needs to work against the naturalentropic forces that will not occur without significantcost benefits.
They rise due to:– Increased crop productivity and favourable climatic
conditions, to create necessary surpluses for specialisation,
– New social strategies,– Large labour force.
Harappan cities are known for being a part of a cluster of smaller sites that seem to have had a symbiotic relation with each other.
Their population density seems to be self limiting by resources and links with the rural environment.
Mohenjo-daro : aerial view
Harappan civilization is in fact divided into
three phases: Early Harappan phase (3500 BC–2600 BC) –
it was marked by some town-planning in
the form of mud structures, elementary
trade, arts and crafts, etc.
Mature Harappan phase (2600 BC–1900
BC) – it was the period in which we notice
well developed towns with burnt brick
structures, inland and foreign trade, crafts
of various types, etc.
Late Harappan phase (1900 BC–1400 BC) –
it was the phase of decline during which
many cities were abandoned and the
trade disappeared leading to the gradual
decay of the significant urban traits.
TOWN PLANNING FEATURES OF
HARAPPANS The most interesting urban feature of
Harappan civilization is its town-planning.
Almost all the major sites (Harappa,
Mohenjodaro, Kalibangan and others),
are divided into two parts– a Citadel on
higher mound on the western side and
a lower town on the eastern side of the
settlement. The citadel contain large
structures which might have functioned
as administrative or ritual centres. The
residential buildings are built in the lower
town.
The main streets of the cities at
both Harappa and Mohen-jo-daro
were generally oriented from north
to south, with connecting streets
running East to West, The streets of
major cities such as Mohen-jo-daro
and Harappa were also laid out in
a perfect grid pattern, The street
layout showed an understanding
of the basic principles of traffic,
with rounded corners to allow the
turning of carts easily. These streets
divided the city into 12 blocks
Mud Bricks were largely used at Harappa,Kalibangan, Lothal and Banawali besides burntbricks. The size of bricks remained the sameeverywhere.
The ratio of brick size was 1:2:4. Other fortifiedsites of this culture were at Sutkogendor, AliMurad,Ghazi Shah and Daburkot etc.
Except for the west-central blocks, the basic unitof city planning was the individual house. Bricks offixed sizes were used for building while stone andwood were also used. Buildings in the lower areawere rather monotonous, being mainly functional.
The average house in these ancient cities
appeared to have stood at least two storeys
high(suggested by the thickness of the enclosing
wall) & by remnants of wide staircases where the
steps and risers still survive to considerable height
from the occupation level on the ground floor.
The houses were built on plinths rising above the
street level with flights of steps recessed in the wall
at the front door. The doors of the houses usually
opened on to the side lanes rather than on to the
main streets.
LAYOUT OF HARAPPAN CITY
The Citadels
The existence of a theocratic and
authoritarian society indicated by the
presence of large and well-fortified citadels in
each of the capital cities. These citadels
always face west which served as sanctuaries
for the cities populations in times of attack
and as community centres in times of peace.
The citadel at Harappa measuring 1400 ft. x
600 ft. on mound 40 ft. high which faced
foundation with brick embankment 45 ft.
thick. The citadel at Mohen-jo-daro included
a very large building that may have been a
palace.
The Lower Town
The Lower Town was also walled. Several buildings
were built on platforms, which served as
foundations. It has been calculated that if one
labourer moved roughly a cubic metre of earth
daily, just to put the foundations in place it would
have required four million person-days, in other
words, mobilising labour on a very large scale.
Consider something else. Once the platforms were
in place, all building activity within the city was
restricted to a fixed area on the platforms. So it
seems that the settlement was first planned and
then implemented accordingly. Other signs of
planning include bricks, which, whether sun-dried
or baked, were of a standardised ratio, where the
length and breadth were four times and twice the
height respectively. Such bricks were used at all
Harappan settlements.
The great bath at Mohen-jo-daro hadwaterproofed with bitumen. Brickcolonnades were discovered on theeastern, northern and southern edges.The preserved columns have steppededges that may have been used tohold wooden screens or windowframes. Two large doors lead into thecomplex from the south and otherentrance was from the directions ofnorth and east. A series of rooms arelocated along the eastern edge of thebuilding and in one room is a well thatmay have supplied some of the waterneeded to fill the tank. Rainwater alsomay have been collected for thispurposes, but no inlet drains are seen.
DIMENSION OF THE GREAT BATH – 12mX7mX 2.4m(depth)
The Great Bath
Large granaries were located near each ofthe citadels, which suggest that the statestored grain for ceremonial purposes, timesof shortage, and possibly the regulation ofgrain production and sale.
Built on top of a tapered brick platform, thisbuilding had a solid brick foundation thatextended for 50 meters east west and 27meters north south. The foundation wasdivided into 27 square and rectangularblocks by narrow passageways, tworunning east west and eight running northsouth. A section of the northern foundationhad hollow sockets for wooden beamsused to support a stairway or woodenstructure. Later wells and walls are seen inthe foreground.
The eroding wells and a wall built upagainst the granary show that much of thearea to the north of the granary was filledwith debris and later buildings.
GRANARIES
THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM
The Indus civilization had an elaborate
sanitary and drainage system, the hallmark
of ancient Indus cities .Each and every
house had a connection with the main
drain. These even had inspection holes for
maintenance. The conduits to the main
drains running through the middle of the
streets below pavement level and covered
with flat stones and sturdy tile bricks. The
covered drain was connected to the larger
sewerage outlets which finally led the dirty
water outside the populated areas. The
urban plan found in these cities included
the world`s first urban sanitation systems.
The elaborate brick-lined drainage system
for the removal of rainwater is of
unparalleled engineering skill.
Toilets would have been an essential feature in Mohen-jo-daro, but the early
excavators identified most toilets as post-cremation burial urns or sump pots. This
brick structure had a hole in the top that was connected to a small drain leading
out of the base into a rectangular basin (not reconstructed). Early excavators
suggested this might have been a toilet.
Two structure with a hole and drain located are thought to have been toilets.
While these two structures may have been unique examples of toilets, most
people would have used old pots set into the ground as commodes.
Harappan Wells Wells were made with wedge shaped bricks to make a
strong circular structure. Some bricks were made withspecial grooves to keep the ropes from sliding sidewayswhen drawing water.
Public wells- Although most wells were located insideprivate buildings, the city planners of Mohenjo Daroprovided some public wells that could be accessed directlyfrom the main street.
Well & platform- well was associated with a finelyconstructed bathing platform. A stairway leads up to thewell and platform from a lower room. The walls and wellhave been covered with mud brick and sprayed with clayslurry to protect them from salt crystallization.
Each block of buildings at Mohenjo-Daro was supplied withone or more wells. When archaeologists excavated the fillaround the well they were left standing to show the finallevels of use
Courtyards Large Courtyard-
In some neighborhoods, largecourtyards were connected tonumerous smaller buildings built atdifferent levels. The pilastered wall onthe left supported houses at a higherlevel. A large corbelled arch drain thatwas later blocked is seen emerging froma wall in the background.
Street leading to the Stairs-
This room in the figure was made with bricks set on
edge to create a watertight floor. A small well was
located in the southeast corner (top right) and
circular brick depressions were set into the floor,
presumably to hold pottery vessels. The early
excavators suggested that the room might have
been a dyer's workshop.
STREETS First Street-
Looking north along First
Street. The area to the left
has been fully excavated
and the area to the right is
unexcavated. Later street
levels are seen in the
background.
Narrow streets and drains-
The streets and alleyways wind
through the neighborhood and
are oriented along a strict grid
plan.
Street leading to the Stairs-
Some houses had small
staircases leading to a second
story or to a platform for
pouring water into a bathing
area.
Nature of Harappan cities
Urbanism requires needs to work against the natural entropic forces
that will not occur without significant cost benefits.
They rise due to:– Increased crop productivity and favourable climatic
conditions, to create necessary surpluses for specialisation,
– New social strategies,
– Large labour force.
Harappan cities are known for being a part of a cluster of smaller
sites that seem to have had a symbiotic relation with each other.
Their population density seems to be self limiting by resources and
links with the rural environment.
Typical & Atypical Aspects Of The
Civilisation
Typical characteristics:
– Large urban centres surrounded by smaller settlements.
– Special residential sites for some very important persons.
– Very standard housing size well designed for the environment.
Atypical characteristic:
– No evidence of large scale army and little evidence of conflict or conquest.
– No evidence of grandiose structure.
– No evidence of central important to religion.
– High level of voluntary standardisation over an impossibly large area.
– Large cities with well planned amenities.
Bibliography www.Harappa.com
www.mohenjodaro.net
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indus_Valley_Civilization
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohenjo-daro
PDF found on internet published by N.C.E.R.T. (www.ncert.nic.in/ncerts/l/lehs101.pdf)
History book found on website (http://www.9ia.info/reading/history-book-l03-national-institute-of-open-schooling-CpGb.html)
Image Courtesy– slideshare presentation “indusvalley-110928070926-phpapp02”
Book Reference-(docs.google.com/file/d/0BwsSIXQVeAtBeFZ1QkJkMTFHOFU/edit?usp=drive_web)
Book Reference-(docs.google.com/file/d/0BwsSIXQVeAtBakpvYlhPZFR4R3M/edit?usp=drive_web)
Website Reference- reference.indianetzone.com/1/town_planning.htm
www.slideshare.net/mathewsdijo/indus-valley-civilization-37593226?qid=fa740378-034b-4eca-ae76-4bb29983fb5b&v=default&b=&from_search=7
THANK YOU.
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