One of the world’s oldest documented civilizations is the Indus Valley Civilization. Also known as the Saraswati or Harappan civilization, it existed on the Indian subcontinent from 2600 to 1800 B.C paving way to mysterious archaeological discoveries.
The advanced design of cities like Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, water management systems, grid-oriented neighborhoods, and a multitude of crafts make the Indus Valley one of the most advanced civilizations of the past. Cotton was utilized to make textiles and clothes, and food production was essential for the vast population.
There are other intriguing factors about this civilization. For instance, the mysterious archaeological discoveries of artifacts point to a governing class. The absence of temples and palaces suggests that the civilization was made up of several separate communities.
10 Mysterious Archaeological Discoveries From The Indus Valley Civilization
In today’s article, we will look into 10 mysterious archaeological discoveries from the Indus Valley civilization.
Indus Valley Script
The writing system of the Indus Valley people remains undecipherable. The Indus script, as evidenced by excavated seals and tablets. Each comprises cryptic inscriptions depicting pictographic symbols, along with human and animal motifs. Scholars are still trying to decode the same.
Pillared Hall At Mohenjo-Daro
Next in line with the mysterious archaeological discoveries is Mohenjo-Daro’s great hall – with its columns. Only two of the twenty rectangular brickwork columns set in four rows provide support for the hall. Paved flooring runs north to south in strips, with a row of edge-positioned bricks running the length of each strip. The hall has smaller chambers by the later construction of the cross wall in the backdrop. Its objective is still unknown.
The Granaries Of Harappan Civilization
Standing on a 45-meter-long brick foundation, the Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa granaries are enormous constructions. Three sleeper walls with air space between each of the two rows of six rooms make up the structures. According to scholars, large public structures like this were used for meetings and special religious purposes, but their exact use is yet to be uncovered. It is one of the most prominent mysterious archaeological discoveries from the civilization.
Stupa At Mohenjo-Daro
Built atop the citadel mound, this stupa is the tallest and most noticeable building in Mohenjo-Daro. The interior seal is from about the year 2500 BCE. It is believed that the mound was a highly revered area of the ancient city, where the aristocracy of the time resided. Some claim it was a Buddhist stupa constructed in the Kushana era, while others argue it was a watchtower or ziggurat constructed earlier in the Harappan era. It is hard to determine its exact date and reason of construction.
Unicorn Seals
Two rare unicorn seals were found in the ancient Harappan cities, Mohenjo-Daro and Dholavira, during excavation in the 1920s. The seal’s face is missing, but enough of it is still visible to reveal the unicorn and writing. Setting it different from the rest is the small compartment, with no concrete proof of its purpose. The peculiar status of the Unicorn seals gets it the standard of a sacred relic.
Workmen’s Platforms
Among the mysterious archaeological discoveries of the Harappan civilization is a series of enigmatic circular platforms within homes and little courtyards. Some researchers speculated that these platforms, also known as workmen’s platforms, were utilized for threshing grain for the neighboring granary. In addition, the bricks’ orientation indicates that water was used in this location.
Disc For Counting Or Praying
Out of many mysterious archaeological discoveries, there is a disc from Mohenjo-Daro. It has circles and dots, with numbers, divisible by 8, and does not fit a base eight or decimal system by the Harappans. Some archaeologists suspect it was used for keeping track of goods. Others believe it was for praying or for predicting the future.
Ivory Counters
Peculiar artifacts are found in the excavation sites. Some counters had a single duck ornament, while others had more than one ornament. No one knows what purpose these items served. Some believe they are just antique figures, whereas others think they are part of future divination process. This is yet another mysterious archaeological discovery.
Terra Cotta Cones
Adorned terracotta cones are another one of the mysterious archaeological discoveries at Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa. Some academics speculate that masons and carpenters used them as a plumb-bob, hanging them on a string. Some people believe they might have been toys or even used for writing. But their possible use remains unknown.
Sign-Board At Dholavira
At the northern entrance of Dholavira’s castle is a massive wooden “signboard” bearing ten 37-centimetre-high Indus inscriptions. With one repeated four times, the board looks to be three meters long. The “signboard”-style sign is thought to have been created during Stage IV of classical Harappan society. It implied ancient Indus gateways featuring particular signage for outsiders.
The mysteries of the ancient Indus Valley civilization captivate time itself. From the astounding architecture of Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa to the decoding of the Indus Valley script, from the allure of the art of this era to the finely engineered drainage systems and municipal planning and the mysterious disappearance of the prehistoric society, everything evokes wonder and curiosity.
Historians, archaeologists, and researchers are continuously peeling back the layers of the past to uncover new information and understandings that will aid in their unraveling of the confounding questions surrounding the Indus Valley civilization. Discussions about the impenetrable mysteries of the Indus Valley persist to this day, paying homage to the enduring mystery that it is. The study of mysterious archaeological discoveries shows the ongoing allure of the lost civilizations. Even though the Indus Valley civilization has long faded from existence, people’s fascination with it has yet to wane.
