Indus Valley Civilization:

Que. Highlight the development of craft and industry during Harappan civilization. [Practice Question]

Approach:

(1) Write in brief about Harappan Civilization.

(2) Give data related to different craft and industry thriving in Harappan civilization.

(3) Conclude by stating the materialistic nature of harappans can be seen in craft and industry.

Introduction:

The Indus Valley Civilization was a cultural and political entity which flourished in the northern region of the Indian subcontinent between 3300 BCE-1300 BCE (mature phase is from 2600 BCE to 1900 BCE). It was the largest of the four ancient civilizations, which also included Egypt, Mesopotamia, and China. Its modern name derives from its location in the valley of the Indus River, but it is also commonly referred to as the Indus-Sarasvati Civilization and the Harappan Civilization.

Craft and Industry in Harappan Civilisation:

There is a great variety of standardized, mass produced craft items at Harappan sites. While some sites specialized in the production of a single or a few items, others such as Harappa manufactured a wide range of goods. Craft activity was often localised in a certain part of the settlement.

(1) Pottery: 

The Harappan pottery reflects efficient mass-production. Pottery kilns were found at Mohenjodaro, Harappa, Nausharo and Chanhudaro.

Variety: There is a great variety of pottery, including black-on-red, grey, buff, and black-on-red wares. Most pots were wheel turned. 

Style of Pottery: The typical Harappan pottery is a fine, sturdy, wheel-made ware with a bright red slip, decorated with painted black designs. Polychrome painting is rare. 

Decorative Patterns: The decorative patterns range from simple horizontal lines to geometric patterns and pictorial motifs. Some of the designs such as fish scales, pipal leaves, and intersecting circles have their roots in the early Harappan phase. Human figures are rare and crude.

Functions of Pottery: The large jars may have been used to store grain or water. The more elaborately painted pots may have had a ceremonial use or may have belonged to rich people. Small vessels may have been used as glasses to drink water or other beverages.

(2) Metallurgy: 

Harappans were aware of copper, gold and silver metallurgy. Copper was widely used, and it occurs in the form of weapons, agricultural tools like sickles, carpentry tools like chisels, ornaments like kohl-sticks, finger-rings, bangles, earrings and miscellaneous objects like fish-hooks, needles, scale-pans and figurines.

Evidence: Sixteen copper furnaces were found at Harappa, and copper workshops were found at Lothal. A large amount of copper oxide was discovered in a brick-lined pit at Mohenjodaro.

(3) Bronze Casting: 

Bronze casting was conducted on a large scale in practically all of the civilization’s main sites. Bronze casting was done using the Lost Wax Technique. Bronze casting was popular at all locations of Indus valley culture (IVC), as evidenced by the copper dog and bird of Lothal and the Bronze figure of a bull from Kalibangan and the dancing girl from Mohenjodaro.

(4) Terracotta: 

Harappan sites have yielded a profusion of terracottas. There are figurines of animals such as bulls, buffaloes, monkeys, dogs, toys, bangles.

Among the figures, the most important are the ones demonstrating the mother goddess. Some figures of bearded males with coiled hair were also found.

(5) Stone Work: It was another important craft.

Evidence: Stone masonry and fine polished pillars were found at Dholavira.

(6) Stone Sculptures: 

The handling of the 3D volume may be seen in stone figures found in Indus valley sites. There are two major stone statues:

Bearded Man (Priest Man, Priest-King): The bearded man is understood as a priest who is wrapped in a shawl that is coming from under the right arm and covers the left shoulder.

Male Torso: The head and arms are attached to the neck and shoulders through socket openings. Legs have been broken. It is one of the more expertly cut and polished pieces.

(7) Seal: 

Seal making was another important Harappan craft. Most of the seals are square or rectangular. The average size of the square seals is about 2.54 cm, but there are larger ones, a little over 6.35 cm.

Most of the seals are made of steatite, but there are a few silver, faience, and calcite ones as well. Two fine silver seals with the unicorn motif were discovered at Mohenjodaro, and some copper and soapstone ones were found at Lothal. Most of the seals have a short inscription. Some rectangular seals have script, but no motif.

Purpose of Seals: The seals were made mainly for commercial purposes. The people use these seals as amulets. The size of a standard Harappan seal was 2×2 square inches. Every seal has a pictographic script on it that has yet to be understood.

Pashupati Seal: There was a seal found in Mohenjodaro named the Pashupati seal. This seal looks like a human figure seated with its legs crossed. On the right side of the figure, an elephant and a tiger could be seen, and a rhinoceros and on the left a rhinoceros and a buffalo

(8) Bead Making: 

Bead making was a craft known in earlier cultures, but in the Harappan civilization new materials, styles, and techniques came into vogue.

The Harappan crafts people made beads out of steatite, agate, carnelian, lapis lazuli, shell, terracotta, gold, silver, and copper.

Evidence: Beadmaking workshops have been recovered from Mohenjodaro and Chanhudaro, and Lothal.

(9) Textile: 

It can be inferred from the available evidence that the Harappans made cotton and woollen textiles. The terracotta figurines wearing clothes (shawls, skirts, etc.) reflect the kinds of clothes people wore.

Use of spinning wheels: The uniform thickness and uniformity of the weave suggest the use of spinning wheels. Various kinds of spindle whorls for spinning thread have been found at Harappan sites.

Evidence: Traces of cotton cloth were found at Mohenjodaro, preserved over the centuries due to their being in contact with a corroding silver jar.

(10) Weights and Measures: 

The Harappans used a standardized system of weights and measures. Most weights were of cubical shape and made of chert.

The system is binary in the smaller weights (1:2:8:16:32:64) and decimal in the higher weights (with a ratio of 160, 200, 320, and 640).

Reason for high level of Standardisation: It is possible that craftsmen and traders may have been organized in corporate groups similar to guilds, but there is no proof of this. Also Some element of central direction is suggested, but its nature and degree are far from certain.

Conclusion:

The Harappan Civilization, known for its urban centers and advanced society, displayed a materialistic nature evident in their craft and industry. The intricate pottery, metallurgy, terracotta, Stone sculptures, seals and bead making reflect their emphasis on craftsmanship and practicality. This highlights their mastery in utilizing material resources for functional and aesthetic purposes.