Indus Valley Civilization
- The civilization that appeared in the northwestern part of India and Pakistan in the third millennium BCE is collectively called the Indus Civilization.
- Since Harappa was the first site to be identified in this civilization, it is also known as Harappan Civilization.
- The Indus Civilization represents the first phase of urbanization in India.
- The Keezhadi civilization situated on the banks of River Vaigai in Sivagangai was older than the Indus Valley Civilization.
- The word ‘Civilization’ comes from the ancient Latin word civics, which means ‘city’.
- Radiocarbon Dating Method also known as C14 method, the radiocarbon method uses the radioactive isotope of carbon called carbon 14 to determine the age of an object.
History of Harappa
- The word Harappa in Sindhi means ’buried city’
- Harappa is an archaeological monument excavated between the river Ravi and Sutlej
- The ruins of Harappa were first described by Charles Masson in his book
- Amir, the Harappan related archaeological site, was first visited by Alexander Burnes in 1831.
- The site of Harappa was destroyed for laying the railway line from Lahore to Multan.
- The seal from this site reached Alexander Cunningham, the first surveyor of the Archaeological Survey of India.(ASI)
- The importance of the site and the associated civilization were not released until Sir John Marshal took over as the Director General of ASI