Indus River Valley Civilizations
E.Q. What innovations were used in
Indus Valley civilizations that
improved the quality of life?
Indus River Valley Civilization
• Mohenjo-Daro, which scholars
believe means "hill of the
dead," was an ancient Indian
city located on the west bank
of the Indus River in the IndusSarasvati region. The ruins of
Mohenjo-Daro were
discovered in 1922. The other
Indus-Sarasvati city that was
known of at that time was
Harappa, discovered in 1826.
Over time, thousands of
ancient settlements have been
discovered along the banks of
the Indus River and the nowdried-up Sarasvati River.
Indus River Valley Civilization
• The people of MohenjoDaro and the IndusSarasvati region belonged
to what many scholars
refer to as the Indus River
Valley Civilization or
Harappan civilization.
• The Harrappan civilization
flourished for over 800
years; dating from
approximately 2700 BCE
to 1900 BCE.
Mohenjodaro.net
www.harappa.com
Indus River Valley Civilization
• Mohenjo-Daro was an extremely well-planned city that was similar in
design to Harappa in the north. Both cities were approximately 3 miles in
diameter, laid out in a grid-like formation with roads intersecting at right
angles, and were built primarily of baked mud bricks. This helped to
make the bricks stronger and waterproof. Like Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro
was divided roughly into two areas: a fortress-type area, or citadel, to the
west and a lower city to the east.
• The citadel was built on a mud and brick platform that raised it 50 feet
above the lower city. A wall surrounded the citadel and contained notches
from which people could look out and defend the area.
• The lower city primarily consisted of houses.
• Archeologists have also discovered what they believe to be craft
workshops in both parts of the city.
• Today, archeologists continue to excavate various areas of Mohenjo-Daro,
and their finding help build our understanding of this great Indian
civilization.
Indus River Valley Civilizations
Today you will be an archeologist who is
excavating artifacts at Mohenjo-Daro. You will
analyze at least 5 of the artifacts found at the
site. While at the sites, you will
1. Record your ideas of what the artifacts are
and what they were used for.
2. Read the ideas of your colleagues and record
their findings.
Excavation Site
Look at the map below to locate where each of the artifacts and ruins were found at the site.