Harappan Culture

• The archaeological findings excavated for the last eightdecades reveal the gradual development of the Harappan culture.

There are four important stages or phases of evolution and they are
named as pre-Harappan, early-Harappan, mature-Harappan and
late Harappan.

The pre-Harappan stage is located in eastern Baluchistan.

The excavations at Mehrgarh 150 miles to the northwest of
Mohenjodaro reveal the existence of pre-Harappan culture.

In thisstage, the nomadic people began to lead a settled agricultural life.In the early-Harappan stage, the people lived in large villages
in the plains.

There was a gradual growth of towns in the Indus valley. Also, the transition from rural to urban life took place during this period.

The sites of Amri and Kot Diji remain the evidence forearly-Harappan stage.

In the mature-Harappan stage, great cities emerged.

Theexcavations at Kalibangan with its elaborate town planning and urban
features prove this phase of evolution.

In the late-Harappan stage, the decline of the Indus culturestarted.

The excavations at Lothal reveal this stage of evolution.Lothal with its port was founded much later. It was surrounded by amassive brick wall as flood protection. Lothal remained an
emporium of trade between the Harappan civilization and the
remaining part of India as well as Mesopotamia.