Geographically, the ancient Indus Valley appears to have been extended over the northern parts of Afghanistan, Pakistan and the northwestern parts of India. In this vast area of various terrains, archaeologists have revealed numerous sites attributed to the prehistoric times and particularly to bronze Age periods of 3300-1300 BC. They also seem to indicate that the peak of the ancient Indus valley cultures and values extended between the middle of the third millennium and the very beginning of the second millennium BC. That was when the majority of the Indus Valley’s five million people used to be engaged in mining precious and semi precious stones in addition to carving seals used in Mesopotamia and trade locations in the Arabian Gulf such as Delmon land.
The results of the intensive excavations and field surveys have indicated the absence of large complicated temples such as those found in Mesopotamia and the Nile valley and this showed that the ancient people of the Indus Valley had very limited religious ceremonies.
While the ancient Mesopotamians and the Egyptians used to bury their dead in highly complicated cemeteries with all sorts of treasures and belongings, or were buried in communal or individual graves containing few pots made of clay or metal and other belongings, so the deceased can use them in nether world. The ancient Indus valley people, mainly in Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa, seems to have practiced supine burials (fractional burials) and sometimes cremated their dead.
Harrapa, the ancient city, was the first to have witnessed organised excavations conducted by C Masson in 1842. Thereafter many archaeologists surveyed the city in particular and the whole area in general and made limited excavations scattered here and there.
In 1949, M Wheeler initiated full-scale excavations in different parts of the Indus Valley. However, his missions were mainly concentrated in Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro cities.
The results of his excavations and earlier and later excavations opened new horizons for studying in full details the ancient and the traditional cultures and values of the Indus Valley; in addition, to its ancient trade and cultural links through prehistoric and historic times with near and far localities such as Mesopotamia.
Studies, for example, revealed the importance of the technique and the use of ornaments in the Indus Valley through all periods and times. In addition to that, they also revealed the existence of ornaments such as bracelets, rings, pendants, necklaces, armlets and anklets worn during ancient periods and in late historic times as symbols of a person’s age, social status, ethnic and religious identity.
Further studies have also revealed the different techniques in manufacturing various types of ornaments regardless of the material used.
As for cultural aspects, for Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro cities in specific and the Indus Valley in general, archaeological systematical activities reveal that since the discovery of the area accidently in 1856, more than one thousand sites along the Indus River were discovered. Harappa and Moreno-Doro, however were the most prominent discovery in the entire valley.
They appeared planned as urban cities enclosed with thick enclosure walls built of bricks. According to the material found during the course of excavations, both cities were established during the middle of the third millennium BC. Inside those defensive walls houses were found built of bricks with one to three floors with numerous rooms. Some appeared to have had separated bathrooms.
To be continued next week
