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The Indus Valley Civilization

Discovery and Nature

- a vast civilization flourished on floodplains of Indus River Valley (c.2500 BCE)

- eventually spread much further and lasted till about 1700 BCE

- only unearthed in 1920's; ongoing discoveries being made about the IVC

- origins and demise as yet unclear

- Harappa :largest cities of IVC; thus also the lower indus valley

- in upper IVC, continuously inhabited since 3300 BCE

- Mohenjodora: major center in the lower IV

- among objects excavated are small square seals;mostly depict...

- also engraved with the IV script; not yet deciphered

- evidence of writing vanished by about 1700 BCE; emerges again in the 4th century BCE

Indus Valley Religion

- aspects of religious life suggest continuities with Hinduism

- terracotta female figurines suggest goddess were wildly worshiped

- seals portray female figures entwined in or fused with trees and plants

- figure horned headdress in a yogic posture: "thy phallic proto-siva"; contains many characteristic associated with Hindu god Shiva

- that these seals actually depict an early form of siva is inconclusive

- bathing tank (Mohenjodora) suggests connection with bathing tanks to Hindu temples

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