The Indus Civilization (Cambridge History of India, Supplementary Volume) c15.25

c15.25

That the foot may not have been the only unit of measurement in the Indus civilization is suggested by a fragmentary bronze rod from Harappā¹ marked in lengths of 0·367 in., which is half of the digit in a cubit measurement of about 20·7 ins. used in Egypt, Babylonia, Asia Minor and elsewhere. And the simultaneous use of the two systems, "foot" and "cubit", is supported by the result of "over 150 checks which have been applied to the buildings of Harappā and Mohenjo-daro, comprising measurements of various well-planned houses, rooms, courtyards, streets and platforms".² Thus the length of the main walls of the Harappā granaries was 51 ft. 9 ins. = 30 cubits; the width of their main halls was 17 ft. 3 ins. = 10 cubits; the diameter of the circular working-floors at Harappā is 11 ft. = 10 ft. of 13·2 ins., the Great Bath on the citadel of Mohenjo-daro is 36 × 31 ft. of 13·1 in. Generally, the Harappan foot seems to vary between 13·0 and 13·2 ins., whilst the Harappan cubit ranges from 20·3 to 20·8 ins.