Major Sites of Indus Valley Civilization – The Indus Valley Civilization (IVC), also known as the Harappan Civilization, is one of the world's earliest urban societies, flourishing between 3300 BCE and 1300 BCE in the northwestern regions of South Asia. It is one of the four ancient civilizations of the world and is also claimed to be the largest among all. It belonged to the bronze age and proved to be far more advanced in bronze-using culture. 

• The Indus Valley Civilization spanned a vast area of approximately 1.25 million square kilometers, covering parts of present-day Pakistan, northwest India, and northeast Afghanistan. 
• In 1921, the Archaeological Department of India unearthed the first site of the Indus Valley Civilization and it is known as Harappa. Since then the civilization itself is referred to as the Harappan Civilization.
• Renowned for its advanced urban planning, the IVC featured grid-patterned cities, standardized brick constructions, and sophisticated drainage systems. 
• Notable sites of the Indus Valley Civilization include Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro in Pakistan, and Dholavira and Rakhigarhi in India. 
• These cities were characterized by well-organized streets, fortified structures, and evidence of extensive trade networks. 
• Artifacts such as terracotta figurines, seals, and tools reflect a rich cultural and artistic heritage.

Despite its achievements, the IVC remains enigmatic, with the Indus script still undeciphered, leaving many aspects of its society and decline shrouded in mystery. In this article, let us find out about major sites of Indus Valley Civilization, important Harappan sites, their location, the archaeologist behind their excavation and the important archaeological findings in these sites. 

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List of Important Indus Valley Civilization Sites

There are more than 1000 Indus Valley Civilization Sites spread across several regions of India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Majority of sites have been primarily discovered along the Indus and Ghaggar-Hakra river systems. The following are the major sites of the Indus Valley Civilization –

• Harappa
• Mohenjo-Daro
• Dholavira
• Rakhigarhi
• Lothal
• Kalibangan
• Banawali
• Chanhudaro
• Sutkagendor
• Alamgirpur

Also check – NCERT Notes on Ashoka’s Edicts

Now, let us find out about each of these Indus Valley Civilization sites in detail below along with their archaeological findings – 

Harappa, located in the Sahiwal District of Punjab, Pakistan, is one of the earliest and most significant sites of the Indus Valley Civilization. Excavated in 1921 by Daya Ram Sahni, it revealed a well-planned urban center with a grid layout, advanced drainage systems, and standardized brick structures. Key findings include two sandstone statues depicting human anatomy, Ekkas (bullock carts), two rows of six granaries, workmen quarters, a bronze sculpture of a dog chasing a deer, a red sandstone male torso, a sculpture of a mother goddess, pottery with Indus script, faience slag, and terracotta figurines. These discoveries highlight the sophistication of Harappan urban planning and craftsmanship. Harappa's strategic location near the Ravi River facilitated trade and cultural exchange, contributing to its prominence in the ancient world.

Major Archaeological Findings Unearthed from Harappa

1. Two sandstone statues depicting human anatomy
2. Ekkas (Bullock carts)
3. Two rows of six Granaries
4. workmen quarters
5. Bronze sculpture of a dog chasing a deer
6. Red sandstone male torso
7. Sculpture of mother goddess
8. Pottery with an Indus script on it.
9. Faience slag
10. Terracotta figurines

Mohenjo-Daro, situated in the Larkana District of Sindh, Pakistan, was one of the largest settlements of the Indus Valley Civilization. Built around 2500 BCE, it was rediscovered by R.D. Banerjee and his team in 1922 and is one of the most important Indus Valley Civilization sites. The site features a well-organized urban layout with a central citadel and a lower residential area. Notable structures include the Great Bath, a large public water tank, and advanced drainage systems. Artifacts uncovered include seals, terracotta figurines, and pottery, providing insights into the daily life and trade practices of its inhabitants. Mohenjo-Daro's architectural sophistication and urban planning reflect the advanced engineering skills of the Harappan people.

Major Archaeological Findings from Mohenjo Daro

1. The great bath
2. Citadel
3. Bronze statue of dancing girl
4. Bronze buffalo
5. Steatite statue of a bearded priest
6. Seal of Pashupati
7. The great granary
8. Assembly hall
9. 3 cylindrical-shaped seals similar to Mesopotamian ones.
10. Terracotta toys
11. A piece of woven cloth

3. Dholavira (Gujarat, India)

Dholavira, located on Khadir Bet Island in Gujarat's Kutch district, is one of the most prominent Harappan sites in India that was discovered in 1967 and was excavated by R.S. Bisht in 1985. It is one of the largest sites of the Indus Valley Civilization. Occupied between 3000–1500 BCE, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021. Recently, in 2014, a step well was discovered from this Harappan site. It was thrice the size of the Great Bath of Mohenjo Daro. The site comprises a fortified city with a complex water management system, including reservoirs and channels. Notable findings from this Indus Valley Civilization Site include large inscriptions, stadium-like structures, and a cemetery, reflecting the city's advanced urban planning and cultural significance. Dholavira's strategic location facilitated trade and cultural interactions, contributing to its prominence in the ancient world.

Major Artefacts Excavated from Dholavira

1. Signboard
2. Large water reservoirs and embankments
3. Dams
4. A figure of a chariot tied to a pair of bullocks was driven by nude men.
5. Usage of rocks in construction.

4. Rakhigarhi (Haryana, India)

Rakhigarhi, situated in the Hisar District of Haryana, is one of the largest Harappan sites, covering approximately 350 hectares. The excavation of this Indus Valley Civilization site began only in 1963 that revealed evidence of urban planning, including streets, drainage systems, and residential areas. Artifacts such as pottery, seals, and terracotta figurines have been uncovered, shedding light on the daily life and trade practices of its inhabitants. This IVC site appears to be as large as Harappa and Mohenjo Daro. The Global Heritage Fund considers Rakhigarhi as one of the oldest as well as the largest site of the Indus Valley Civilization. The site also provides insights into the evolution of the Indus Valley Civilization from the pre-Harappan to the mature phase. Rakhigarhi's strategic location near the Sarasvati River facilitated trade and cultural exchange, contributing to its prominence in the ancient world.

Major Archaeological Findings at Rakhigarhi

1. Bronze toys
2. Terracotta statues
3. Granary with 7 rectangular chambers. (It dates back to the mature Harappan phase i.e. 2600 BCE to 2000 BCE).
4. Traces of cotton cloth on silver and bronze artefacts

5. Lothal (Gujarat, India)

Lothal, located in Gujarat's Bhogava River basin, is known for its well-preserved dockyard, indicating its significance as a maritime trade center. Occupied between 2400–1600 BCE, it was part of the Harappan Civilization's trade network. Archaeologist R.Rao unearthed Lothal city, an important site of the Indus Valley Civilization site in 1953. It is located near the Gulf of Cambay/ Gulf of Khambhat in Gujarat, on the bank of river Sabarmati. One of the important features of this Harappan site is that it consists of a dock which is regarded as the oldest one in the country. This dock connects the city to the Arabian sea via the Sabarmati river. This made the city an important trade centre of the entire civilization.

Excavations have revealed bead-making workshops, warehouses, and a tidal dockyard, along with artifacts such as seals and pottery, highlighting the city's role in regional and long-distance trade. Lothal's strategic location near the Arabian Sea facilitated maritime trade, contributing to its prominence in the ancient world.

Archaeological Findings from Lothal

1. Port and dockyard
2. Single citadel
3. An exclusive feature of lothal is that it has a house with an entrance facing the street
4. Couple burial
5. The seal with the story of a clever fox
6. Mesopotamian seal made of ivory
7. Rice husk
8. Chess game
9. Terracotta figures of horse and ship

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6. Kalibangan (Rajasthan, India)

Kalibangan, located in Rajasthan's Hanumangarh district on the banks of river Ghaggar, is a pivotal site for understanding the evolution of the Indus Valley Civilization. The name "Kalibangan," meaning "black bangles," originates from the numerous black bangle fragments found at the site. In 1953, Kalibanhan city of the Indus Valley Civilization was excavated by Amala Nanda Gosh. Excavations have revealed both pre-Harappan and Harappan remains, showcasing the transition between these cultures. The archaeologists claim that the ploughed fields of Kalibangan are the world’s first ploughed fields. 

Notably, Kalibangan is renowned for its fire altars, indicating ritualistic practices, and evidence of ploughed fields, suggesting advanced agricultural techniques. The site's layout includes a fortified citadel and a lower town, reflecting organized urban planning. Artifacts such as pottery, seals, and tools provide insights into the daily life and trade practices of its inhabitants. Kalibangan's strategic location along the Ghaggar River facilitated trade and cultural exchange, contributing to its prominence in the ancient world. 

Major Findings Unearthed from Kalibangan City

1. Double citadel
2. Burnt bangles
3. Fire altars
4. Sun-dried bricks
5. Ploughed fields
6. Wooden plough
7. Bones of camel
8. Lower fortified town
9. Earthquake evidence
10. Copper ox
11. Small circular pits with large urns and pottery

7. Banawali (Haryana, India)

Banawali, situated in Haryana's Fatehabad district, is an important archaeological site of the Indus Valley Civilization, which was unearthed by R.S.Bisht in 1974. Located on the left bank of the dried-up Sarasvati River, Banawali was established over the upper middle valley of the river. It is located about 120km to the northeast of Kalibangan. Excavations led by R.S. Bisht in 1974 uncovered a fortified settlement with a citadel and a lower town, indicating a well-planned urban structure.The city consists of a well-constructed fort town with a defence wall of a height of 4.5m. Burnt and moulded brick kilns were used to construct the houses. The pottery recovered from the IVC site, Banawali is very similar to that of Kalibangan in the assemblage. Artifacts such as pottery, beads, and seals have been found, shedding light on the craftsmanship and trade activities of its people. The site's layout and material culture suggest a society engaged in agriculture, trade, and artisanal production, reflecting the complexity of the Harappan civilization in this region. 

Artefacts Unearthed from Banawali

1. Barley grains of good quality
2. Toy plough
3. The settlement was oval shaped
4. Burnished grayware which were decorated with motifs
5. Ivory comb
6. Tortoiseshell
7. Human figures of both males and females
8. S-shaped jars, painted earthen pots, cooking vessels etc.

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8. Chanhudaro (Sindh, Pakistan)

Chanhudaro, located 130 kilometers south of Mohenjo-Daro in Sindh, Pakistan, is unique among Indus Valley sites for lacking a citadel. In 1931, the Harappan site called Chanhudaro was excavated by N.G.Majumdar and his team. This site is located in the Nawabshah district of Sindh (Pakistan) on the bank of the river Indus. It is located 80 miles south of Mohenjo Daro. From the archaeological findings of this site, it can be inferred that this city was the manufacturing centre of the Indus Valley Civilization and it was possibly an abandoned city. This site is portrayed as the Lancashire of ancient India and it is the only Indus city which does not have any citadel in it.

Excavations have revealed a settlement with a grid layout, sophisticated drainage systems, and well-constructed mud-brick houses, indicating advanced urban planning. Artifacts such as pottery, seals, and terracotta figurines, including depictions of human and animal forms, reveal the civilization's artistic achievements. Chanhudaro is believed to have been a center for manufacturing carnelian beads, suggesting its role in craft production and trade. The absence of fortifications implies that the site functioned more as a trade hub than a military stronghold. 

Archaeological Findings from Chanhudaro

1. Traces of bead maker’s factory
2. The usage of kajal and lipstick was discovered
3. Inkpot
4. Impression of a cart with a seated driver

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9. Sutkagan Dor (Balochistan, Pakistan)

Sutkagan Dor, located on the Makran coast near Gwadar in Balochistan, Pakistan, is the westernmost known archaeological site of the Indus Valley Civilization. Discovered in 1875 by Major Edward Mockler, the site features substantial stone walls and gateways, indicating its role as a fortified settlement. In 1929, one of the sites of the Indus Valley Civilization, Sutkagendor was excavated by a Flint blades archaeologist named Stein. This Harappan site is located in the Makran district of Balochistan (Pakistan), on the banks of Dast river. As of now, it is the westernmost site of the Indus Valley Civilization that is known. Like most of the Harappan sites, Sutkagendor also has a citadel and defensive wall which is about 30 feet wide. Archaeologists believe that this Harappan site would have been on the trade route from Lothal to Mesopotamia.

Artifacts uncovered include pottery and seals, suggesting its involvement in regional trade networks. Sutkagan Dor's strategic location facilitated maritime trade, connecting the Indus Valley with the Persian Gulf and beyond. 

Major Archaeological Findings Unearthed from Sutkagendor

1. Stone vessels
2. Pottery
3. Shell beads and
4. Bangles are made out of clay.

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10. Alamgirpur (Uttar Pradesh, India)

Alamgirpur, situated in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut district, is considered the easternmost site of the Indus Valley Civilization. Excavations in 1958 and 1959 revealed a four-fold cultural sequence, with the earliest layers belonging to the Harappan Culture. Artifacts such as pottery, beads, and copper tools have been uncovered, providing insights into the daily life and trade practices of its inhabitants. The site's location near the Hindon River suggests its role in facilitating trade and cultural exchange between the Indus Valley and the Gangetic plains.

Major Artefacts Discovered from Alamgirpur

1. Pottery Types including Painted Grey Ware (PGW), Red Ware, and Black Ware
2. Needles, bangles, antimony rods
3. Beads made from agate, faience, and shell, along with copper ornaments
4. Bones of cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats, and dogs
5. Plant Remains
6. Textile Impressions on pottery fragments 
7. Fortified settlement with structures made of mud bricks
8. Graves contained faience and shell bangles and agate beads
9. Four-fold cultural sequence
10. Grave of Dog Beneath Human Burial

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Other Major Sites Of the Indus Valley Civilization

Apart from the major Indus Valley Civilization Sites described above, there are several other prominent sites that were discovered across the Indian subcontinent. A few other prominent sites of the Indus Valley Civilization are listed below –

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