Traces of practice of farming and agriculture in the Harappan Civilisation:
The presence of grain indicates the prevalence of agriculture, but the specific agricultural practices of the Harappans are challenging to reconstruct.
Representations on seals and terracotta sculptures suggest the knowledge of bulls, implying the use of oxen for ploughing.
Terracotta models of ploughs discovered at sites in Cholistan and Banawali (Haryana) provide further evidence of agricultural practices.
Excavations at Kalibangan revealed a ploughed field with two sets of furrows at right angles, indicating the simultaneous cultivation of two different crops.
Archaeologists have attempted to determine the tools used for harvesting, questioning whether the Harappans used stone blades with wooden handles or metal tools.
Many Harappan sites are situated in semi-arid regions, suggesting the necessity of irrigation for agriculture.
Traces of canals have been found at the Harappan site of Shortughai in Afghanistan, although their existence in Punjab or Sind is uncertain due to potential silting over time.
It is possible that water drawn from wells was used for irrigation purposes.
Water reservoirs discovered in Dholavira, Gujarat, might have served the purpose of storing water for agricultural needs. |
