Description : Harappa Culture of the Indus Valley The Harappa civilization flourished in the Indus Valley during IndiaÕs Bronze Age of
Harappa Culture of the Indus Valley The Harappa civilization flourished in the Indus Valley during IndiaÕs Bronze Age of the
third millennium b.c. This thriving culture was all but completely descimated in 2500 b.c.
by invading Aryan groups from the west. The archaeological evidence that has been produced
by the famous sites of Harappa and Mohenjo-daro suggest that the people of the Harappa
Culture may have in fact, contributed more substantially to modern Hindu culture than was
previously believed.The Harappa Culture of the Indus valley saw itÕs peak during the Bronze
Age of India. It stretched from itÕs northern capital, Harappa, in the Punjab, to the
southern city, Mohenjo-daro, on the Indus in Sind (Piggott, 134). These two sites together
comprise the most well known and best excavated representatives of Bronze Age Harappan
culture. However, it should be noted that in addition to these two famous sites, there are
fourteen smaller villages in HarappaÕs ÒNorthern KingdomÓ, and seventeen smaller sites in
Mohenjo-daroÕs ÒSouthern KingdomÓ;together, these sites comprise the remains of the once
extensive Harappan culture (Piggott, 136). Both main sites have certain striking features
in common; in particular, both are, or were, located on the banks of major rivers --
Harappa on the Ravi, and Mohenjo-daro on the Indus. Additionally, the plan and lay-out of
the two cities is quite similar, consisting of: Òan irregular series of mounds toward the
east and a recognizably higher and more compact mound placed more or less centrally and on
the edge of the site[s] to the west,Ó (Piggott,159). These mounds are now recognized as the
remnants of fortified citadels in which stood Òcertain buildings of peculiar plan defended
by a battered wall of baked bricks... wit...