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Town Planning of Harappan Civilization
In 1922, Dayaram Sahani and Rakhal Das Banerjee discovered the remains of two cities, Harappa and Mohenjo-daro. As a result, there was no doubt about the existence of a highly developed ancient civilization in the Indian subcontinent during the Bronze Age. The timeline of this civilization is estimated to be from around 2600 BCE to 1750 BCE. Most of the center of this civilization was around the banks of the Indus River, so initially, this civilization was known as the Indus Valley Civilization. However, over the past few years, extensive excavations in a vast area spanning across India and Pakistan have revealed the expansive spread of this civilization. Accordingly, according to the principles of archaeology, the first discovered archaeological site was named Harappa, hence the civilization is termed the Harappan Civilization.
The main characteristic of the Harappan Civilization was its urban centrality. Spanning an area of approximately 50,000 square miles (according to another view 70,000 square miles), this civilization had around 1400 urban centers. These were the first urban settlements in the Indian subcontinent. Surprisingly, it was noted that the Planning of each city was almost identical. Harappa and Mohenjo-daro were undoubtedly the two largest cities. Their areas were approximately 150 hectares and 200 hectares, respectively. Analyzing the urban layout of Harappan cities, one can discuss these two as models, mentioning the variations alongside.
The cities of Harappa were divided into two primary areas: the upper city or citadel and the lower city or main city. The upper city was artificially elevated and housed important structures, likely serving as administrative areas rather than residential. These areas were always located to the west or northwest of the city, except for a deviation in Lothal, where the citadel was situated in the southeast. Citadels were basically rectangular and protected by fortification walls. The major structures of the Harappan civilization, such as the Great Bath of Mahejodaro and the Great Granary of Harappa and Mahenjodaro both, were located in the citadel area.
In Mohenjo-Daro, a huge building measuring 750 square meters with 20 pillar-supported compartments, likely used for ritualistic purposes was found. Additionally, in the citadel area of Dholavira, there existed a large reservoir. The city division has exceptions also. Dholavira was divided into three parts, including a Middle town area apart from the upper and lower cities. Kalibangan was divided traditionally into upper and lower towns, but its upper town was also divided into two parts.
Discussion about the citadel includes elaboration on Mohenjo-daro's Great Bath. The bathing area contained a large water tank with dimensions of 12 meters by 7 meters and a depth of 2.4 meters. Steps were present on the north and south sides of the tank. After ascending the steps, there were dressing rooms equipped with platforms, possibly used for changing clothes. The entire construction was made of fired bricks, and its drainage system was highly advanced.
Following the bathing area, the discussion turns to the Great Granary. The two granaries had similar sizes, dimensions, and construction styles, made entirely of baked bricks. The granaries of Harappa were compared to the State Bank of the civilization by the archaeologist Martimar Wheeler. Harappa's granary was located near the Ravi River. Its area was approximately 9000 square feet and contained two rows of platforms. Each row had six platforms, each measuring 50 by 20 square feet. Between the two rows, there was a space for movement, approximately 23 feet wide. At the southern end of the granary, there was a large platform with a cylindrical well on top, believed to be used for grain storage. There were also two rows of small residential quarters on the southern side of the granary, presumably for laborers.
The lower city was a residential area for common citizens. The roads were wider in the north-south direction than in the east-west direction, dividing the entire lower city into several neighborhoods. Main Roads did not have residential buildings but were mainly used for shops. Residential buildings were constructed along the Lane. Each street had a drainage system, and there were dustbins placed on the main Roads.
The houses of the Harappan civilization varied in size and layout, indicating socio-economic disparities. One such house found in Mohenjo-daro had an area of 300 square meters and contained 27 rooms and a courtyard. Another house in Mohenjo-daro had remains of stairs, possibly indicating it was multi-storied. Such houses were likely not inhabited by common poor citizens but belonged to affluent individuals. In most cases, houses had a single kitchen despite having multiple rooms. These types of houses imply a nuclear family structure prevailing in society.
A significant aspect of Harappan's urban life was cleanliness. For 2000 houses in Mohenjo-daro, there were 27 public wells, highlighting the emphasis on sanitation and communal relations. Although there were no such wells found in Harappa, the city had an advanced drainage system comparable to contemporary civilizations.
Harappan urban life's incredible organization and planning raise questions about how it was possible without centralized control. Some speculate that the Harappan civilization was a kind of empire, with Harappa and Mohenjo-daro as its two main centers. However, excavations have not found evidence of military fortifications, challenging the notion of a powerful military presence. Therefore, some suggest that priests-administrators might have controlled Harappan society. The discovery of a male stone idol in Mohenjo-daro further strengthens this hypothesis. However, until the decipherment of the Harappan script, nothing conclusive can be said about this matter.
Harappan civilization failed to sustain its advanced urban life for an extended period. Neglecting nature and violating urban rules led to the decline of urban life, ultimately leading to the extinction of the civilization around 1750 BCE.
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