The Script of Harappa and Mohenjodaro and its Connection with Other Scripts c6.59

c6.59

Civilization. The people of the Indus Valley were in point of general civilization similar to their Sumerian and Babylonian contemporaries. Their brickwork¹ is excellent; especially in the construction of their drains, which remain watertight to this day. Incidentally the size of the surface drains suggests that the rainfall, if seasonal, was heavy. Perhaps the monsoon visited Mohenjodaro in those days. There is no inherent meteorological improbability. In 1926 Karachi received over 10 inches of rain in two successive days, though the normal annual rainfall in modern times is under 10 inches. The apparent absence of irrigation works at Mohenjodaro would also suggest that in ancient times the rainfall was adequate. The presence of the elephant and the rhinoceros, and the absence of the camel in their glyptic designs supports the same conclusion. These people were clever craftsmen, working in many metals and stones. They made excellent pottery, which they decorated with taste. Some of these designs are still in local use today.²