Indus Valley Civilization Far Ahead Of Its Time Has Baffled Scientists For Centuries

A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - According to ancient Indian epics and esoteric doctrine, Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro were two of the Seven Rishi Cities of the Rama Empire. Archaeologists and historians estimate the Indus Valley civilization might be much older than previously thought.

Based on recent discoveries, there is reason to think the Indus Valley civilization may be at least 8,000 years old and this would also mean the Indus Valley civilization pre-dates Egypt’s pharaohs and Mesopotamia is often mentioned as the cradle of human civilization.

The Indus Valley civilization is one of the greatest and the least known early civilizations of the Old World.

For hundreds of years, the Indus Valley civilization has troubled the world of archaeology and perhaps the only chance to learn the secrets of these people is to decipher the Indus script.

Some of these secrets we already know. Harappans’ technological achievements are still recognizable today.

Evidence shows that the Indus Valley people were both sophisticated and technologically advanced; they were very talented in many areas of science, technology, and engineering. They developed new techniques in metallurgy and the production of copper, bronze, lead, and tin was possible because Harappans were skilled metallurgists who used several techniques in their work.

The engineering skills of the Harappans were used in their impressive architecture.  Their master engineers constructed dockyards, large warehouses, granaries, brick platforms, and protective walls, which most probably functioned as the protection against floods and possible military conflicts that could endanger the population.

Urban Planning Of Great Importance

Excellent knowledge of urban planning was of great importance for the people of the Indus Valley.

Evidence of that can be found in the remains of great cities such as Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro and the recently partially excavated Rakhigarhi, located in the valley of the prehistoric Drishadvati River ("She with many stones"), a river that confluences with the legendary Vedic river Saraswati; during the Vedic period.

Harappan engineers are credited with the world's first known urban sanitation systems. People used water from wells and could take a bath while wasting water was directed to covered drains, which lined the major streets.

Another marvelous achievement of Mohenjo-daro people was the advanced drainage system, “the like of which has not yet been found anywhere in the world in any other city of the same antiquity.” The drainage system and drains were covered with bricks or stones and were provided with inspection traps and main holes at regular intervals for inspection.

Every house had its own soak-pit which collected all the sediments and allowed only the water to flow into the street drain.

Archaeologists have found evidence of soaps, combs, and medicine used by the people. The elaborate drainage system of the Harappan people shows that hygiene, health, and sanitation were of great importance for them.

See also:

Controversial Ancient History Of Harappa And Mohenjo Daro – Advanced Indus Valley Civilization Pre-Dates Egypt’s Pharaohs And Mesopotamia

Mysterious Mohenjo Daro Was Home To An Unknown Advanced Civilization Far Ahead Of Its Time

Curious Ancient Copper Plates May Help Unravel The Mystery of Indus

How Did Indus Civilization Manage To Resist Climate Change?

Mysterious Rishis – Remarkable Ancient Sages And Scientists With Divine Knowledge In India

Accurate Measurements Of Length, Mass And Time

The people of the Indus Civilization were among the first to achieve great accuracy in measuring length, mass, and time. They were among the first to develop a system of uniform weights and measures.

Standard weights and measures were developed by the Indus Valley Civilization and they existed in multiples of a standard weight and in categories. Archaeologists unearthed precise weights that used the binary system.

Uniform units of length were used by engineers in the planning of towns such as Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Lothal, and others.

Many Tools But Few Weapons

They used the metals to make a variety of tools but few weapons compared with other civilizations. They also demonstrated their talents by using other materials. The earliest forms of buttons were found in Mohenjo-Daro. These were made from seashells.

Good Knowledge Of Astronomy

Harappans had a good knowledge of astronomy, observed the sky, and used the gnomon, a sun stick for their measurements. The straight streets of their cities were oriented towards the cardinal directions, which assume astronomical observations.

Broken tablets and seals reveal evidence of the ‘Great Bear’ and the ‘Pleiades’ (in old Tamil: ‘Seven Stars’), a group of stars that played an important role and are mentioned in several Hindu myths. They were found depicted on some seals as seven human figures. Ancient Harappan scripts and later Vedic texts suggest that Harappan priest-astronomers tracked the progress of Mercury, Venus, and Saturn.

They probably observed all of the planets and mapped the sky. The Vedic Calendar, which was based on the movement of the planets and the stars, was used at this time.

Written by A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com Staff Writer

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