Indus Valley Civilization:
Que. Do you think the Harappan civilization had a diversity of subsistence bases? [UPSC CSE-2014]
Approach:
(1) Explain briefly the diversity of subsistence bases of the Harappan civilization.
(2) Mention the different diversity of subsistence bases of the Harappan civilization.
(3) Conclude by stating its impact on the Harappan civilization.
Introduction:
The Harappan civilisation covered an enormous area and the diversity of the subsistence base was an important sustaining factor; if one food resource failed, people could turn to others. It is generally believed that the economy of the Harappan people was mainly based on external trade. It is true to the extent that the Harappan urban centres were supported by the external trade but actually agriculture was the backbone of the civilization. Agriculture was supported and supplanted by animal husbandry. The economy of the Harappan civilization was based on domestic animals, particularly on zebu cattle, and on variable agriculture of growing cereals, pulses and other plants. These were supplemented by the exploitation of wild resources, such as fish.
Diversity of the subsistence base: Agriculture
(1) Variations Types of crops: It was the mainstay of the subsistence base. Given the area covered by the civilization, there were regional variations in the plants grown by the farmers.
The types of crops that the Indus Civilization had were wheat, barley, peas, lentils, linseed, mustard, sesame, watermelon seeds, dates, millets, horse gram, greengram, etc. In addition to these, there was also evidence of grapes, cotton and henna. Experts say that they might have grown cotton in the summer. They did not grow rice much because it didn’t grow well where they lived, but they did find white rice and fed it to their animals.
(2) Geographical Advantages: The silt that the river brought in when it flooded was the reason why they can grow this many crops. The nutrients that the plants needed were replenished every year when the annual floods came in.
(3) Innovation of tools: They also developed some new tools known as plough and were used to dig earth for planting the seeds and turning the soil. A method of irrigation was used due to less rainfall.
(4) Animal Farming: The Harappan reared cattle, sheep, goat, and buffalo. Water and pastures were present around many sites. People collected fruits, fish and hunted wild animals.
(5) Irrigation: In Allah Dino (Near Karachi), the wells had very small diameter to enable the groundwater to rise higher due to hydraulic pressure. It may have been used to irrigate the nearby fields.
(6) Trade in Agricultural commodity: (i) Rice: Rice was imported from Gujarat to Punjab. (ii) Cotton: Lothal and Surkotada provided cotton for the developing townships of Mohenjo-Daro, Harappa, Banawali, etc. (iii) Textile and Conch shell: Textiles and conch shell objects were other possible exports. (iv) Granary: The largest building in Mohenjo-Daro is a granary to store grain measuring 150 feet length and 50 feet breadth. In the citadel of Harappa, we find as many as six granaries.
(7) Animal husbandry:
(i) Role of Animal: Animals played a big role in the Indus Civilization. Harappan sites have yielded remains of domesticated animals such as dogs, cats, short-horned buffaloes, possibly pigs, camels, cow, chicken, sheep, goats, horses, donkeys (which they later used for transportation), and elephants.
(ii) Widely used Animals: Cattle and buffaloes were the most domesticated animals. They were used for meat, milk and draught animals. Dog figurines suggest the domestication of this animal. The elephants had a bit more of a vague description so they might have been more used for their ivory.
(iii) Food habits: They mainly ate cows but they ate most sea foods such as fish and shellfish. Goats and sheep were used for meat, wool, milk and as pack animals.
(8) Hunting:
(i) Bones of wild animals have been found at the Harappan sites. These include many varieties of deer, pig, boar, sheep, goat, ass and pig. Rhinoceros bones occur only at Amri and elephant and camel bones occur only in small quantities.
(ii) The animals like rhinoceros, elephant, tiger, rabbits, peacocks, pigeons, ducks, monkeys etc appear on seals, represented in figurines and paintings on pottery.
(9) Fishing and exploitation of riverine and marine resources: Evidence of Trade: Bones of tortoise and fish have also been found. The discovery of marine catfish bones at Harappa suggests that coastal communities traded dried fish in inland cities. At coastal sites in Gujarat, molluscs provided an important protein- rich element in people’s diet.
(10) Trade and Craftsmanship: The Harappans were skilled artisans engaged in various crafts such as pottery, metallurgy, bead-making, and textile production. These crafts were not only essential for local consumption but also traded within and beyond the civilization’s boundaries.
(11) Pottery and Storage: The advanced pottery techniques of the Harappans were crucial for food storage and preparation. Pottery vessels were used for cooking, storing food, and transporting goods.
Conclusion:
Thus on the basis of archaeological and archaeo- zoological studies, the researchers have classified the Harappan society as directly proportional to diversity of subsistence. On the basis of these sources, the Harappan social organizations consisted of hunter- gatherers, pastoralists, farmers or agriculturist, fishing communities (Fishermen), Butchers, Transporters or traders, tool maker (Jewellers), priest group, magician and cart makers which are a clear testimony to this fact that Harappa had diversity of subsistence.
