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Bricks, Beads And Bones

Question
CBSEENHS12027235

What are the aspects of Harappan economy that have been reconstructed from archaeological evidence?

Solution
Through archaeological evidences it is known that Harappan economy was mainly based on agro pastoralism and trade.

1. Agriculture- While the prevalence of agriculture is indicated by finds of grain, it is more difficult to reconstruct actual agricultural practices. However we can know through archaeological evidence that the Harappans grew many crops wheat, barley, lentil, chickpea and sesame. Millets are found from sites in Gujarat. Finds of rice although there but are very rare.

2. Pastoralism- This was also another economic activity that Harappan depended onto. Finds of animal bones has lead archaeologist to understand what animals they consumed and domesticated. Thus archaeologist have found the remains of cattle, sheep, goat, buffalo and pig. Studies done by archaeo-zoologists or zooarchaeologists indicate that these animals were domesticated too.

3. Trade- Archaeological evidence has provided sufficient knowledge to us that trade was one of the most important aspects of the Harappan economy. For example we have found out many settlement specialized in craft production such as Chanhudaro. Where craft of bead making, shell cutting etc. After that the finished products were taken to the bigger cities like Mohenjo Daro or Harappa.
we also see that it was not just the internal trade but existence of trade with outside world. For example there are evidences of Harappan seals at Mesopotamia, even mentions of Harappa in Mesopotamian texts as Meluhha.
The trade consisted not only of finished products but raw material as well. Because evidence are found of copper that could have been brought from Lothal.

Thus we can see that through archaeological evidences we can reconstruct many aspects of Harappan economy.