Settlement Features Of

Indus Valley Civilization

PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN
SETTLEMENT

Prince Goyal
1211101119 sec B
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.C1900 BC).
Harappan civilization was discovered in 192022 when
two of its most important sites were excavated. On the
basis of the archaeological findings the Harappan
civilization has been dated between 2600 B.C1900
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 its
settlements 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 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.
Mohenjo-daro : aerial view
Harappan civilization is in fact divided into
three phases:
Early Harappan phase (3500 BC2600 BC)
it was marked by some town-planning in
the form of mud structures, elementary
trade, arts and crafts, etc.
Mature Harappan phase (2600 BC1900
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 BC1400 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 burnt
bricks. The size of bricks remained the same
everywhere.

The ratio of brick size was 1:2:4. Other fortified

sites of this culture were at Sutkogendor, AliMurad,
Ghazi Shah and Daburkot etc.

Except for the west-central blocks, the basic unit

of city planning was the individual house. Bricks of
fixed sizes were used for building while stone and
wood were also used. Buildings in the lower area
were 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
The great bath at Mohen-jo-daro had
waterproofed with bitumen. Brick
colonnades were discovered on the
eastern, northern and southern edges.
The preserved columns have stepped
edges that may have been used to
hold wooden screens or window
frames. Two large doors lead into the
complex from the south and other
entrance was from the directions of
north and east. A series of rooms are
located along the eastern edge of the
building and in one room is a well that
may have supplied some of the water
needed to fill the tank. Rainwater also
may have been collected for this
purposes, but no inlet drains are seen.
DIMENSION OF THE GREAT BATH 12m
X7mX 2.4m(depth)
 GRANARIES
Large granaries were located near each of
the citadels, which suggest that the state
stored grain for ceremonial purposes, times
of shortage, and possibly the regulation of
grain production and sale.
Built on top of a tapered brick platform, this
building had a solid brick foundation that
extended for 50 meters east west and 27
meters north south. The foundation was
divided into 27 square and rectangular
blocks by narrow passageways, two
running east west and eight running north
south. A section of the northern foundation
had hollow sockets for wooden beams
used to support a stairway or wooden
structure. Later wells and walls are seen in
the foreground.
The eroding wells and a wall built up
against the granary show that much of the
area to the north of the granary was filled
with debris and later buildings.
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 with
special grooves to keep the ropes from sliding sideways
when drawing water.
Public wells- Although most wells were located inside
private buildings, the city planners of Mohenjo Daro
provided some public wells that could be accessed directly
from the main street.
Well & platform- well was associated with a finely
constructed bathing platform. A stairway leads up to the
well and platform from a lower room. The walls and well
have been covered with mud brick and sprayed with clay
slurry to protect them from salt crystallization.
Each block of buildings at Mohenjo-Daro was supplied with
one or more wells. When archaeologists excavated the fill
around the well they were left standing to show the final
levels of use
 Courtyards
Large Courtyard- Street leading to the Stairs-
In some neighborhoods, large This room in the figure was made with bricks set on
courtyards were connected to edge to create a watertight floor. A small well was
numerous smaller buildings built at located in the southeast corner (top right) and
different levels. The pilastered wall on
the left supported houses at a higher circular brick depressions were set into the floor,
level. A large corbelled arch drain that presumably to hold pottery vessels. The early
was later blocked is seen emerging from excavators suggested that the room might have
a wall in the background. 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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