The Indus Civilization c5.32

c5.32

Excavations at early sites in Babylonia have shown that the round column, whether of burnt or unburnt brick, was a common feature of early architecture in that country, and it is curious that it was not also used in the buildings of the inhabitants of the Indus valley, who had been trading with Sumer since as early as 3000 B.C. It would have been an easy matter to use wedge-shaped bricks for round columns for, as I have said, this type of brick was employed in the construction of wells (Pl. B, b); the only explanation which seems to account for their not being so used is that the people of Mohenjo-daro and Harappa were too conservative to try any new experiments in building, though that they had the requisite skill is proved by their endeavours in other respects.