5000 year-old pots

 

Examples of domestic pots from the Indus Valley Civilization

Examples of domestic pots from the Indus Valley Civilisation

When I started Pipal Press I was obsessed with the Indus Valley Civilisation and was collecting good examples of pottery from a proper source. Here is an excellent selection of 5000 year-old domestic  pots probably from one of the main sites in Pakistan. The red conical beaker is rare as is the coloured pot (note the lack of decoration below the bulge so it could sit in sand). The other two show the geometric style and the much used blue lines which are symbolic rivers.

Later I learnt that new sites were being discovered in Gujarat and are being excavated now. Dholavira was a major port dating from about 2600 BCE (see p35 in the Kutch book) and now lies stranded apart from a causeway to Khadir Island in the Raan salt flats . There is much more about IVC to come from Kutch and Gujarat.
If this subject is of interest to others I would welcome comment. I can add some more.

3 thoughts on “5000 year-old pots

  1. Eileen Scholes

    The pots are of course beautiful and fascinating. My favourite is the one at centre back. PS Forgive my flippancy in wishing ‘the lack of decoration below the bulge so it could sit in sand’ was a design guideline adhered to by some of the folks sitting on British beaches right now.

  2. Mike Thomas

    Forgiven without reservation! Your favourite is precious to me too and I might post a couple more as the coloured pots are hard to find. I tend to avoid beaches by the way.

  3. Ancient archaeologist

    https://www.facebook.com/sciencegroup.ofindia/posts/539026516231942?pnref=story

    This Well in the Bottom of the Water reservoirs was excavated before 2007 and that was recorded and documented. There was no excavation of reservoir thereafter. But it took 7 years to understand the fact why the STEP WELL was required at the BOTTOM of the Water reservoir. Also it said that “It’s rectangular and 73.4m long, 29.3m wide, and 10m deep” and pictures of small well is produced. But all pictures are wrong – looks like just they have not seen – not understood and wrote and with incorrect pictures. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/…/articlesh…/44638220.cms?

    WELL in the bottom of the Reservoir is available from the reference library of Archaeological section of Kutch Science foundation Library. Emailed on 25th August 2010

    https://www.facebook.com/sciencegroup.ofindia/posts/387867718014490 posted on 3rd December 2013
    Was River Saraswati flowing during the period of the Harappan time? When? 3000BC?

    Many a times it has been said that River Saraswati was flowing during the time of Dholavira civilisation around the 3500BC ! and dried up later and so civilisation also dried up? But what is the reality is still unclear and also a premature. But A detailed survey and study of the DHOLAVIRA region shows some clues that The Saraswati river was not flowing from the Himalayas region of Shivalics at that time but dried up and ONLY rain water was flowing in those river channels of the dried Saraswati river basin area.

    Let us see in details of each one by one with ancient Archaeological irrigation engineering and survey reports and satellite reading of present times.

    1) If the River Saraswati was flowing from Shivalics of the HILALAYAN Range then Fresh water was available in the area and Rann of KUTCH was filled with fresh water lake – which was not there. But Rann of KUTCH was salted water and ONLY Lakhpat was getting some Indus river channels getting fresh water and that was used for cultivation in the area. Which is also stopped since 1819 tectonic activity.
    2) If Dholavira has a Saraswati Fresh water from Shivaliks of the Himalayan range before 3500 BC , DHOLAVIRA would have not required a HUGE ANCIENT Archaeological IRRIGATION Engineering system and huge reservoirs to store the water as we see in the area. and if we see in details Even WATER reservoir has a well in the BOTTOM of the Water reservoir! The reason is that the area was dependent ONLY on Rain water source and so Huge storage of water was required. Also each drop of water is stored to chain connection of each water reservoir by gravity. and also IF multiple droughts the water reservoir is dried up the water from the well in the Bottom of the Reservoir could be used. Drought was common in the Kutch around harappan time too.

    Picture A) Dholavira River Water source.jpg
    The Civilisation area of DHOLAVIRA has a water source of the RIVER flowing East of Dholavira from the NE hills of Name HEDAMBHADANG (Brodhor of Hedanba – wife of BHIMA) distance of about 3.5 to 4 Km, height is from 100 Mts. As the river approaches DHOLAVIRA at about 350 -400 Mts the Height remains only 27-30 Mts ONLY. Dholavira height is from 22 to 25 Mts . SO the possible, diverting rain water from those water channels is possible around that point and place at NE of DHOLAVIRA civilisation area about 350 -400 Mts the Height remains only 27-30 Mts ONLY.

    Picture B) Dholavira RiverWater source.jpg
    Dholavira also has one more water channel North West of the Civilisation area. but that water channel but the level of the area is lower than the reservoirs so gravitational drainage of rain water is not possible but could be used in that area ONLY, Else has to go FURTHER away N-NE from Dholavira to get more height and which is not likely as increase distance will reduce gradient slope of water flow. Dholavira height is from 22 to 25 Mts . SO the possible, diverting rain water from those water channels is possible around that point and place at NE of DHOLAVIRA civilisation area near Road crossing point with the Water River channel about 350 -400 Mt the Height remains only 27-30 Mts ONLY.

    We will have a look in details of each site and its Geo seismo/Geo-Tectonic aspects, and surprising result of BHANJANO and HADIMBADANG collapse related to IBF fault line. But time scale to be confirmed as it may go beyond present records of Earthquakes. I have visited sites NORTH of HADIMBADANG HILL and looked all over. Whole of Northern side has collapsed including Bhanjano hill with an inclination of angle of about 25 degree. Which is not in Archaeological time scale but goes beyond in geological time scale.

    Recorded reading shows that from West to East measurement shows that over a distance of 200 from SN height drops from 100m to just 18 meters. making drop of 82 meters in 200 meters distance which gives SIN value=0.41 which gives angle of Declination of collapse by 24.5 degree. which is not possible without highly geological activity.
    More over Archaeological findings shows that Saraswati river might have flowing through Rann of Kutch during the civilisation time (5000 -10000), But reality is looking different. As Water irrigation methods shows that Area was not ONLY deprived of water sources BUT relay River flow was restricted well before (MARUDA TAKKAR PORT to be examined fist for sediments of fresh water sedimentary layer/ Or Salt water sediments – +15000) and upliftment of RANN resulted in completely dry SALT RANN. DHOLAVIRA SHOWS that even water reservoir emptied in LONG droughts. they used the well in the bottom of the Reservoir!! (picture attached). So all rain water irrigation was developed in all same time civilisations including in the agriculture irrigation system.
    Dholavira has Another civilisation yet to be known – JHANDISAR (LAKE) near south of Fossil site North Of Present KOTADO of Dholavira. which may be an agricultural irrigation system as BHARASAR DAM (there are dozen of KOTADA in Kutch and few in Saurashtra Bhavnagar near LOTHAL area – Kotada Mahuva, Kotada Uncha etc. each has different ID of Kotada so Mixing is to be avoided)

    The major rivers of north-west (Punjab, Sindh, Rajasthan & Gujrat) were: Saraswati, Sindhu (Indus), Shatadru (Sutlej), Vipasa (Beas), Vitasa (Jhelum), Parushni (Ravi), Asikni (Chenab), Yamuna, Drishadwati and Lavanavati. All rivers have changed their courses since Vedic times. Of these, three rivers: Saraswati, Drishadwati and Lavanavati no longer exist. In Vedic times: the rivers Beas, Jhelum, Ravi & Chenab joined Sindhu, to form one channel from Himalayas to Arabian Sea.

    Saraswati and her tributary rivers: Yamuna, Sutlej, Drishadvati and Lavanavati formed the other channel from Himalayas to the Arabian Sea. Saraswati was a mighty river with three sources in the Himalayas. Her bed was as vast as 10 km in some places. The river course was dotted with lakes and ponds.

    In the very early days, Saraswati met the Arabian Sea at the Rann of Kachh. After the level of Rann increased, she crossed the Rann to join Arabian Sea at the gulf of Khambat. – Course of Saraswati – Here is the proposed course of the northwestern rivers during Vedic times: It was on the banks of Saraswati, that the Vedic ashrams thrived. It was on the waters of Saraswati that the vedic culture grew. She was thus called the goddess of knowledge. (Remember goddess Saraswati is always portrayed with water in background, blooming lotus, white swans, and bathing elephants.) The Rg Veda praises the river as: ambitambe naditambe devitambe saraswati – The best of mothers, best of rivers, best of godesses, Oh Saraswati!
    Saraswati-Sindhu civilization: – 80% of the sites have been found on the dry banks of river Saraswati, and hence the name Saraswati-Sindhu.
    It is suggested that the urbanised and trade oriented Saraswati-Sindhu civilization (3100-1900 BC) suceeded the earlier Vedic civilisation. They built their civilization on the Vedic knowledge. How else could they build towns, navigate the seas, achieve large scale production, have quality standards, and have commercial relations with the Mesopotomia & Egypt cultures? It was the Vedic study that provided them the required knowledge of geometry, algebra, geography, ship building, and navigation.

    The Saraswati-Sindhu Civilization represents itself in, about 300 cities (plus so many supporting towns & villages). Huge cities had populations of 100,000. They had two or three storied houses built with bricks of uniform size. The cities had underground sewage system. Networked with grid of roads. Cities had giant reservoirs for water. (Today, only one or two Indian cities can boast to be like those built 5,000 years ago!)
    The Decline

    Late Vedic Period: Tectonic movements pushed up the Aravali hills, in northern Rajasthan. This changed the drainage pattern of the Northwest drastically. Saraswati lost her major tributaries, Yamuna and Sutlej. Sutlej turned west and joined Beas-Sindhu system, and Yamuna started migrating east to join Ganga.
    During Mahabharat times: The volume of water flowing down the Saraswati had reduced. The waters of Saraswati did not make it upto the sea. Yamuna at this time, partly flowed westwards to meet Saraswati and partly flowed eastwards to meet Ganga.

    At the time of Krishna’s birth Yamuna was not as mighty as it is today. Hence it must have been possible for Vasudev to cross the river, with the new born Krishna in his arms.
    It is described in Mahabharat, that Balaram travelled along the almost dry banks of Saraswati, and then along the banks of Yamuna, from Prabhas (Somnath) to Mathura.

    After Mahabharat times: Yamuna now pirated Saraswati’s sources and flowed into Ganga. Because Yamuna brought the waters of Saraswati to Ganga, the Sagam is called as the Triveni Sangam of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. Ganga now took the importance of Saraswati and the title of goddess.
    Saraswati now had neither her sources nor her tributary rivers. She no longer remained the perinnial river. Only floodwaters of Sutlej flowed through her vast channels. As late as the 16th century AD, the floodwaters of Sutlej flowed down Saraswati.

    Today’s Ghaggar:- a seasonal river, occupies some parts of Saraswati’s dry beds. The dry vast bed called the Hakra-Nara channels lie in the western Rajasthan.
    Impact of Saraswati’s demise on the population
    Saraswati had such an impact on the lives, even after her disappearance, that many rivers were later renamed after her. River Argandab (now in Afghanistan) was named Saraswati. The lower channels of the river Luni in Gujrat were also renamed as Saraswati. Another river born in the Himalayas, (one of the sources of Vedic Saraswati) but flowing down in Assam is also called Saraswati.

    The demise of Saraswati, was near fatal for the Saraswati civilization. The scarcity of water forced people to migrate. Saraswati – Sindhu civilization did not vanish. There was a shift of population after the economy around the Sarasvati river collapsed. People moved to east to the Ganga-Yamuna plains, west (giving rise to the Mittani and Kassites, who worshiped Vedic Gods), northwest and south to Godavari plains.

    Saraswati Discovered! – 1819: Earthquake gives rise to Allah Band. The ground is seen to rise by 5 to 7 meters in some places in Kutch.

    1870: Geologist Alex Rogers discovers: The alluvium deposited by a river in the Gulf of Khambat. It also seems that it must be the drainage of the Panjab, that once flowed into Gulf of Khambat.

    1886: British officer Oldham saw the dry, vast bed of the seasonal river Gaggar. He concluded that a seasonal river could not create a bed so vast; thus Gaggar must be occupying the bed of an older river. He wrote a paper on the change of river courses in the northwest, and attributed that dry bed to Sutlej.

    1886-1999:Many geologists, archeologists and historians some of them being: Wilhemly, Yashpal, Valdiya, Shridhar, Manuk, Mughal, Marshall, Ahmad, S. Kalyanaraman, Roy, Malik, Ghosh, etc. put forth the theory that Saraswati did once flow, in now dry Gaggar, Hakra-Nara channels.

    1972: The sattelite images of the northwestern region showed underground channels of water.
    1980’s: Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai performs carbon testing of the underground waters. It turns out to be 3,500 years old.

    1998: Rajasthan Ground Water Department undertook the task to ‘unearth’ the river with the collaboration of BARC and Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad (a wing of ISRO). If the effort is successful, people living in the desert belt of Rajasthan will be supplied with water for irragation.

    2001 Gujarat Earthquake: The earthquake in Kutch has opened several fissures in that arid land and at some places people have tasted sweet water gushing out. Geologists report new ponds bursting to the surface in Kutch area.
    Thank you for your Invitation for giving a lecture on the subject. I will be happy to participate and deliver the subject. Please forward me an official letter to facilitate my purpose of visit and activity in the area.

    Dr Bhudia,
    I invite you to visit ISR next time you are around Gandhinagar and give a lecture on this subject.

    Dr. B.K. Rastogi
    Director General
    Institute of Seismological Research,
    Next to Petroleum University
    Raisan, Gandhinagar-382 009, India
    E-mail: dg-isr@gujarat.gov.in, Web: http:\\www.isr.gujarat.gov.in https://groups.yahoo.com/…/India…/conversations/topics/14845 Posted on 3rd November 2012.

    Actual picture is like this one (original Water reservoir on east side of Dholavira Citadel and – East side of that reservoir is Lowest in Level so water can be retained in the Lower level and close to the Rain water channel draining the area to reservoir is JUST EAST of this well ) picture From das https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=829291963768024&set=p.829291963768024&type=1&theater

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