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    The document discusses the end of the Indus civilization and whether it collapsed or transformed between 1900-1300 BC. It notes regional variations in archaeological evidence from this period. Specifically, there was a decline in major settlements and long-distance trade networks, as well as changes to agriculture, craft production, and beliefs. However, new Late Harappan settlements also emerged, and the document suggests the Indus civilization may have adapted to environmental and cultural changes rather than a complete collapse.

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    Week 7_ Decline of the Indus (1)

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    The document discusses the end of the Indus civilization and whether it collapsed or transformed between 1900-1300 BC. It notes regional variations in archaeological evidence from this period. Specifically, there was a decline in major settlements and long-distance trade networks, as well as changes to agriculture, craft production, and beliefs. However, new Late Harappan settlements also emerged, and the document suggests the Indus civilization may have adapted to environmental and cultural changes rather than a complete collapse.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    10 views11 pages

    Week 7 - Decline of The Indus

    Uploaded by

    manojirreplaceable
    The document discusses the end of the Indus civilization and whether it collapsed or transformed between 1900-1300 BC. It notes regional variations in archaeological evidence from this period. Specifically, there was a decline in major settlements and long-distance trade networks, as well as changes to agriculture, craft production, and beliefs. However, new Late Harappan settlements also emerged, and the document suggests the Indus civilization may have adapted to environmental and cultural changes rather than a complete collapse.

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    of 11

    19-02-2024

    The End of the Indus:


    Collapse or
    Transformation?

    Indus Sequence

    • Early food producing >6500-5000 BC “Neolithic”


    • Regionalization era 5000-2600 BC Early
    Indus
    • Integration era 2600-1900 BC
    Mature/Urban Indus
    • Localization/ 1900-1300 BC Late Indus
    (regionalization) era

    1
    19-02-2024

    “Cemetery H,” Jhukar, Rangpur”

    What Changes?

    ➢ Changes in agriculture: no communal organization


    ➢ Reorientation to pastoralism
    ➢ Decline in cattle
    ➢ Decline in long-distance trade: esp. with NW and coast
    ➢ Craft production changes: new innovations; pottery changes
    ➢ New beliefs?
    ➢ Major settlements decline

    2
    19-02-2024

    Mature Harappan: 174 sites, 974 ha


    Late Harappan: 50 sites, 255 ha

    Cemetery H

    3
    19-02-2024

    Cemetery H/Late Harappan house


    • 174 (Mature Harappan) to 50
    (Late Harappan) sites
    • Most sites less than 5 ha

    Cemetery H
    burial jar

    4
    19-02-2024

    • Bead jar

    10

    5
    19-02-2024

    Jhukar tradition: c. 2000-1700 BC

    Majumdar, 1920s
    Mughal, 1970s

    12

    Movement to the East?

    Rangpur
    (Gujarat)

    Urba Post-
    n urban
    Rao, 1964 5 87
    Possehl 1980 18 152
    Possehl and 370 237
    Mehta 1994

    14

    6
    19-02-2024

    16

    Explanations:
    invasion

    Indo-Aryan “invasion” (Wheeler)


    - Later texts, ‘Hariyupiya’,

    17

    7
    19-02-2024

    Mythical massacre at Mohenjodaro (1964!!!!!)

    …in the kindled fire he burnt up all


    their weapons, and made him rich with
    kine and carts and horses.

    Room 74, House V (HR area)

    18

    Skeleton in lane
    between XVIII
    and XXXIII, VS
    area (Deadman’s
    Lane)

    19

    8
    19-02-2024

    The Well Room Tragedy, DK area, G section

    BUT
    ➢ 37 skeletons in Mohenjodaro; none in upper
    town
    ➢ Problems in excavation (archaeologists at the
    time disagree)
    ➢ All skeletons not deposited at one time or
    related to each other/the context

    20

    Explanations: Cultural
    • decline in long distance trade
    • More contact with central Asia

    • multiple factors (cultural + natural)


    • Specific, local factors?

    21

    9
    19-02-2024

    Explanation: Environmental change


    • over-exploitation of landscape
    • Dessication

    • Arabian coast

    22

    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1040618216315622?via%3Dihub
    https://www.arch.cam.ac.uk/research/projects/current-projects/tworains/publications

    23

    10
    19-02-2024

    The End of the Indus:


    Collapse or Transformation?
    • Regional Variations (Kenoyer)
    • New late Harappan settlements in Gujarat, Eastern Punjab,
    parts of the Ganga-Yamuna Doab
    • New regional cultures emerge→ gradually replacing the
    Harappan
    • Decline? Or adaptation to climate change?
    • Multi-causal explanations
    • Remember, other things are happening in the regions
    surrounding the Indus…..
    • Which we will look at next

    24

    11

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