The Indus Civilization (Cambridge History of India, Supplementary Volume) c10.26

c10.26

At fairly frequent intervals along the wall were rectangular salients or bastions, some at least of which appear to have risen above wall-level. The main entrance would seem to be represented by a marked inlet on the northern side, but this has not yet been explored. On the western side a curved re-entrant in the defences, controlled by a bastion, led to a system of extra-mural ramps and terraces approached by gates (pl. IVA) and supervised from guardrooms. At the southern end of this system there seems to have been a ramp or stair leading up on to the citadel. It is likely enough that the normal ascent from the flood plain was by steps: the Harappans were very familiar with the principle of the staircase, and indeed less than a century ago Sir Alexander Cunningham actually observed at Harappā "flights of steps on both the eastern and western faces of the high mound to the north-west"² (i.e. the citadel-mound). Unfortunately his record is too vague for use: his flights of steps can no longer be found on the surface and have doubtless been removed.