The Harappan civilization established settlements near sources of raw materials between 2300-1750 BCE. They sent expeditions to areas like Rajasthan for copper and South India for gold. Archaeological evidence also suggests they obtained copper from Oman. Chemical analysis shows the Omani copper and Harappan artifacts contain nickel traces, indicating a shared origin. Large Harappan jars found in Oman and references to copper from "Magan" in Mesopotamian texts further suggest trade between the Harappan and Omani/Mesopotamian regions. Other artifacts provide evidence of long distance contacts and trade networks extending from Mesopotamia to the Indian subcontinent.

1. BRICKS, BEADS AND BONES
Harappan Civilization
( also known as Indus Civilization)
2300-1750 BCE or 2600-1900 BCE)

3. Materials from the subcontinent
and beyond
• They established settlements such as Nageshwar
and Balakot in areas where shell was available.
• Other such sites were Shortughai, in far-off
Afghanistan,near the best source of lapis lazuli, a
blue stone that was apparently very highly valued.
• Lothal which was near sources of carnelian (from
Bharuch in Gujarat), steatite (from south Rajasthan
and north Gujarat) and metal (from Rajasthan).

4. Materials from the
subcontinent and beyond
• expeditions to areas such as the Khetri
region of Rajasthan (for copper) and
• South India (for gold).
• Archaeological finds suggest that copper
was also probably brought from Oman, on
the southeastern tip of the Arabian
peninsula.

7. Contact with distant lands
• Chemical analyses have shown that both the
Omani copper and Harappan artefacts have
traces of nickel, suggesting a common origin.
• A distinctive type of vessel, a large Harappan
jar coated with a thick layer of black clay has
been found at Omani sites.
• Mesopotamian texts refer to copper coming
from a region called Magan, perhaps a name for
Oman, and interestingly enough copper found at
Mesopotamian sites also contains traces of
nickel.

9. Contact with distant lands
• Other archaeological finds suggestive of
long distance contacts include Harappan
seals, weights, dice and beads.
• It is worth noting that Mesopotamian texts
mention contact with regions named
Dilmun (probably the island of Bahrain),
Magan and Meluhha, possibly the
Harappan region.

11. Assignments
• List the materials used to make beads in the
Harappan civilisation. Describe the process
by which any one kind of bead was made.
• List the raw materials required for craft
production in the Harappan civilisation and
discuss how these might have been
obtained.