1. What can archaeology tell us about the Indus River Valley (IRV) civilizations?
Materials needed:
Pencil
Notebook
Do Now:
If you were an archaeologist excavating in the IRV, what three kinds of artifacts/structures would be helpful to find?
2) Explain what they might tell you about the IRV.

2. Review: How many of the “8 characteristics of a civilization” can you recall?
1) Cities/settled population 2) Government 3) Complex religion 4) Job specialization
5) Class structure/social classes
6) Writing system
Art / architecture
8) Public works/infrastructure

3. Indus River Valley Civilizations
Two major cities:
Mohenjo Daro
Harappa
Present-day Pakistan
Why are the cities located where they are??
Emerged around 2500 BC
… and then mysteriously went into decline 1000 years later.

4. What we DON’T know about the IRV
1) We can’t yet understand their writing!
No info on:
Names of leaders
Tax records
Literature
Accounts of victories

5. Today’s task: What do we know about the IRV from archaeology??
Use each image from the Mohenjo Daro/Harappa site excavations to fill out your graphic organizer
2) Examine the artifact / image and try to
Figure out what it is
Describe it
What types of conclusions can you make about this society?
Based on this artifact/ image, does Mohenjo Daro/Harappa classify as a civilization?
Name that trait of a civilization

6. Class Example

7. Eye dropper / mirror / hair pin Specialized workers
Class Example
Eye dropper / mirror / hair pin Specialized workers

8. #1

9. Terracotta vessel Specialized workers#1
Terracotta vessel Specialized workers

10. #2

11. Unicorn seal Record Keeping#2
Unicorn seal Record Keeping

12. #3

13. King-Priest statue Complex Institutions#3
King-Priest statue Complex Institutions

14. #4

15. Dice & Maze games Specialized workers#4
Dice & Maze games Specialized workers

16. #5

17. Ox-water drawn cart (toy) Advance technology / specialized workers#5
Ox-water drawn cart (toy) Advance technology / specialized workers

18. #6

19. Board Game Specialized workers#6
Board Game Specialized workers

20. #7 #7

21. Mother Goddess Complex Institution#7
Mother Goddess Complex Institution

22. #8

23. Weight system Complex Institution#8
Weight system Complex Institution

24. #9

25. #9
City / town (aerial shot right side) Advance cities (strong government?) Why?

26. #10

27. Public bath Architecture (Public works)
#10
Public bath Architecture (Public works)

28. #11

29. Granary Complex institution Settled population Economy
#11
Granary Complex institution Settled population Economy

30. #12

31. Houses Social structure Not large difference
#12
Houses Social structure Not large difference

32. #13

33. Drains /sewers Public works Infrastructure
#13
Drains /sewers Public works Infrastructure

34. #14

35. Citadel Complex Institution (social structure) (religion)
#14
Citadel Complex Institution (social structure) (religion)

36. Short response question write your RACE response on the back of your study guide
What evidence suggests that the Indus Valley Cities were run by a strong central government? Use evidence from your graphic organizer along with the informational text to support your claim. (at least 3 examples)