History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c30.s3.23

v1.c30.s3.23

The weaponry of the Harappans consisted mostly of personal or anti-personal nature, swords, knives, spears, arrows and maces. Clay tablets might have served as missiles to be flung from slings - these again were anti-personal. Commenting on the nature of the arms found in the Harappan sites Mackay states, “it cannot be assumed that these (axes) were used in war, as there is no evidence that their inhabitants were ever seriously threatened by outside enemies until the last phase of the existence of the Indus cities; but they could have been used in working wood, in the chase, and perhaps against dacoits, like the little battle-axe so often carried by the countrymen of Upper Sind.” (Mackay, 1935, p. 124). It is quite evident that as compared to other contemporary societies the armoury of the Harappans is most unimpressive. There is no evidence of forcible destruction of any of the Harappan fortifications. Except in the Kutch region there were no military stations or outposts and hence one has to conclude that the Harappan fortifications were local security measures, often serving to stave off floods. This also indicates that the military element was never an important aspect of Indus life.