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Post by Saurabh on Feb 12, 2016 13:22:23 GMT 5.5
www.sewerhistory.org/grfx/wh_region/indus1.htmThe Indus Valley civilization of Pakistan and northwestern India flourished from 2600-1900 BCE. Harappa, Lothal, and Mohenjo-daro are three of the extensive archeological excavations in the region. They are noted for sophisticated public works that included sewage drainage systems, public wells, and private and public baths. 1. A large corbelled drain was built in the middle of an abandoned gateway at Harappa to dispose of rainwater and sewage. Source: Courtesy of Professor Jonathan Mark Kenoyer, University of Wisconsin - Madison. Jonathan Mark Kenoyer, Ancient Cities of the Indus Valley Civilization (Karachi: Oxford University Press,1998), p. 61.  2. An artist's reconstruction of the gateway and drain at Harappa. By Chris Sloan. See corbelled drain above. Source: Courtesy of Professor Jonathan Mark Kenoyer, University of Wisconsin - Madison. See www.harappa.com 3. Excavated by the Harappa Archaeological Research Project in 1993, this large corbelled drain was built in the middle of an abandoned gateway at Harappa to dispose of rainwater and sewage. Source: Courtesy of Professor Jonathan Mark Kenoyer, University of Wisconsin - Madison. See www.harappa.com Cont...
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Post by Saurabh on Feb 12, 2016 13:24:56 GMT 5.5
4. Several sump pots and latrines built one above the other were uncovered on Mound ET at Harappa. A small water jar dropped into one pot was never retrieved. The hole in the foreground is the beginning of another latrine that turned out to be a complete black-slipped jar. Source: Courtesy of Professor Jonathan Mark Kenoyer, University of Wisconsin - Madison. Jonathan Mark Kenoyer, Ancient Cities of the Indus Valley Civilization (Karachi: Oxford University Press,1998), p. 60.  5. Public well, Harappa. A large public well and public bathing platforms were found in the southern part of Mound AB at Harappa. These public bathing areas may also have been used for washing clothes as is common in many traditional cities in Pakistan and India today. Photo by Jonathan Mark Kenoyer and/or Richard H. Meadow. Source: Courtesy of Professor Jonathan Mark Kenoyer, University of Wisconsin - Madison. See www.harappa.com 6. Lothal as envisaged by The Archaeological Survey of India. Source: Courtesy of Professor Jonathan Mark Kenoyer, University of Wisconsin - Madison. See www.harappa.com Cont... |
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Post by Saurabh on Feb 12, 2016 13:27:07 GMT 5.5
7. Row of private baths, Lothal. Source: Courtesy of Professor Jonathan Mark Kenoyer, University of Wisconsin - Madison. See www.harappa.com 8. Kitchens and wells were spread across the upper town, Lothal. Source: Courtesy of Professor Jonathan Mark Kenoyer, University of Wisconsin - Madison. See www.harappa.com 9. An old well, Lothal. The bricks, typical of an ancient Indus city, were usually of a standard size. Source: Courtesy of Professor Jonathan Mark Kenoyer, University of Wisconsin - Madison. See www.harappa.com Cont... |
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Post by Saurabh on Feb 12, 2016 13:30:50 GMT 5.5
10. Sanitary drainage at the acropolis, Lothal. The most unique aspect of planning during the Indus Valley civilization was the system of underground drainage. The main sewer, 1.5 meters deep and 91 cm across, connected to many north-south and east-west sewers. It was made from bricks smoothened and joined together seamlessly. The expert masonry kept the sewer watertight. Drops at regular intervals acted like an automatic cleaning device. A wooden screen at the end of the drains held back solid wastes. Liquids entered a cesspool made of radial bricks. Tunnels carried the waste liquids to the main channel connecting the dockyard with the river estuary. Commoner houses had baths and drains that emptied into underground soakage jars. Source: Courtesy of Professor Jonathan Mark Kenoyer, University of Wisconsin - Madison. See www.harappa.com 11. The acropolis, Lothal. Near the warehouse, also on a high plinth, is the upper town or acropolis which spans 128 by 61 meters and has extensive drainage systems. Source: Courtesy of Professor Jonathan Mark Kenoyer, University of Wisconsin - Madison. See www.harappa.com 12. Drainage system, Lothal. An elaborate sanitary and drainage system, a hallmark of ancient Indus cities, is in evidence everywhere at Lothal. Source: Courtesy of Professor Jonathan Mark Kenoyer, University of Wisconsin - Madison. See www.harappa.com Cont... |
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Post by Saurabh on Feb 12, 2016 13:33:44 GMT 5.5
13. Bath area, Mohenjo-daro. Almost every house unit at Mohenjo-daro was equipped with a private bathing area with drains to take the dirty water out into a larger drain that emptied into a sewage drain. Many of these bathing areas had water-tight floors to keep moisture from seeping into the other rooms nearby or below. Source: Courtesy of Professor Jonathan Mark Kenoyer, University of Wisconsin - Madison. See www.harappa.com 14. View of the great bath, Mohenjo-daro. Source: Courtesy of Professor Jonathan Mark Kenoyer, University of Wisconsin - Madison. See www.harappa.com 15. The great bath and granary at Mohenjo-daro. Source: Courtesy of Professor Jonathan Mark Kenoyer, University of Wisconsin - Madison. See www.harappa.com Cont... |
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Post by Saurabh on Feb 12, 2016 13:42:25 GMT 5.5
16. Street with covered drain, Mohenjo-daro. Source: Courtesy of Professor Jonathan Mark Kenoyer, University of Wisconsin - Madison. See www.harappa.com 17. Well, Mohenjo-daro. Wells in some parts of Mohenjo-daro have been excavated in such a way that they appear to be towers. Source: Courtesy of Professor Jonathan Mark Kenoyer, University of Wisconsin - Madison. Jonathan Mark Kenoyer, Ancient Cities of the Indus Valley Civilization (Karachi: Oxford University Press,1998), p. 59.  18. Well, Mohenjo-daro. Private wells were rebuilt over many generations to serve the needs of a large household or neighborhood. This well in DK G area at Mohenjo-daro stands like a chimney because all of the surrounding earth has been removed by excavation. Source: Courtesy of Professor Jonathan Mark Kenoyer, University of Wisconsin - Madison. See www.harappa.com |
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Post by Saurabh on Feb 12, 2016 17:26:05 GMT 5.5
Innovative Harappans used commodes thousands of years ago
The innovative spirit of the Harappan civilisation that thrived thousands of years ago was far ahead than any other in India. Besides the Great Bath of Mohenjodaro, which is the first known evidence of a swimming pool, the Harappans also had a dockyard, introduced furrowed fields for agriculture and the commode system of latrines, an expert has said. Speaking on “Harappan Culture: New Discoveries and Perspectives”, Prof Vasant Shinde of Deccan College, Pune, highlighted the innovative spirits of the Harappans, who thrived from 3,300-1,700 BC in the Indus Valley — in what is now Pakistan and western India.
Delivering the first Prof R.C. Gaur Memorial Lecture at Aligarh Muslim University’s department of history Saturday, Shinde said: “Because of the interconnections with the Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilizations, the Harappans introduced certain new methods and techniques in the field of architecture, art and commerce.
“The Great Bath of Mohenjodaro is the first ever known evidence of swimming pool. The first evidence of dockyard has been traced out at Lothal (Gujarat), and the first ever known furrowed field for the cultivation of crops has been found at Kalibangan (Rajasthan).”
The archaeologist said that Dholavira in Kutch is a site of distinct nature as being divided in three parts - named as castle, middle town and lower town, unlike the other Harappan cities that were divided only in two parts i.e. citadel complex and lower town.
“As the site was located in the dry zone of Kutch, the Harappans applied new techniques by making underground tanks and wells for depositing the water of rain.
“The site has also exhibited the building structures made of blocks of stones unlike the other Harappan sites, where the structures are found of mud and burnt bricks. The commode system of latrines, which is usually considered a Western innovative style was originally a contribution of Harappans as noticed at Dholavira,” he said.
Prof. Shinde also highlighted the reasons for the decline of Harappan culture. The drying up of Ghaggar-Hakra river valleys leading to environmental degradation and the decline of foreign trade are the more reasonable factors of decline of the ancient civilisation than the older views of sudden Aryan encroachment and floods.
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