An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v2.c29.225

v2.c29.225

In Pd II (*c.* 2300-1700 B.C.), a well-planned fortified township laid in the typical Harappa [4.9] chess-board pattern was established. It consists of two adjacent fortified areas— one may have been for the ruling class and the other for the common people. The area meant for the common people is subdivided into house blocks, with broad n.-s. thoroughfares, cut at right angles and connected by e.-w. lanes. A defence wall has been traced to a length of 105 m with a height of 4·50 m and a thickness of 6 m. This wall runs n.-s. across the mound. A narrow opening possibly meant as a small door for communication between the two parts of the town is seen in the middle of the wall. The opening is guarded by a massive square bastion built against the defence wall. A drain-like structure apparently intended to let out rainwater, as also three major roads 5·4 × 5·2 × 4·6 m in width and 1·5 m wide e.-w. lanes, have been exposed, with well-planned houses of mud brick comprising rooms, store, kitchen and toilet built on both sides of the roads and lanes. The houses generally have floors of rammed earth, mud walls plastered with husk or cowdung and flat earthen roofs on reed cushion supported by wooden beams and rafters. The bricks used for houses are of small size (6·5 × 13 × 26 cm, 7 × 14 × 28 cm, 7·5 × 15 × 30 cm or 8 × 16 × 32 cm) as against the larger ones (10 × 20 × 40 or 11 × 22 × 44 cm) used for security and defence purposes. A pottery jar found inside the toilet suggests its use as a wash-basin to drain out the used water through a brick channel into a refuse jar placed outside on the road. At all the levels a number of hearths and *tandurs* have been unearthed. Several jars are laid on the floor presumably to store raw or cooked food or other miscellaneous items. The red ware is typically Harappa and has a sophisticated finish. The shapes comprise the dish-on-stand, fruit-stand, S-shaped jar, storage or refuse jar, perforated jar, vase, cooking *hāṇḍīs*, beaker, basin, goblet, chalice cup, handled cup, etc. They are painted with animal and floral designs. It is noteworthy that the Pre-Harappa and Harappa pottery co-occurs throughout. Stone tools include long and short blades of chert or other stones. Weights [6.29] of cubical shape and gamesmen made of stone, ivory and bone, gold beads, copper/bronze arrows, spearheads, razor blades, chisels, fish-hooks, beads, rings, bangles, antimony rods [18.1], wires and hair pins are among the other finds. Another remarkable find is a copper ornament covered with gold foil. Beads of banded agate, topaz, lapis lazuli, quartz, carnelian faïence, shell and ivory; bangles and rings of clay, bone, shell and ivory; terracotta animal figurines; and inscribed seals and sealings with the depiction of various animals are objects of special interest. Charred barley grains, animal bones and fish-hooks are indicative of the dietary.