Development and origin of Indian architecture, sculpture, and pottery.
Sculptures of the Harappan Civilization:-
The sculptures of the Harappan Civilization were similar to the present three-dimensional 3D creations. Most seals, bronze sculptures, and earthen pots (pottery) have been found here.
Seal:-
During the excavation, archaeologists found many seals of different sizes and types as evidence from all the excavation sites.
Types of seals:
Most of the seals are of square, triangular, rectangular, and circular types. Most of the seals are of the square type; from this, it comes to know that square seals must have been used from low-grade trade to high-grade trade. Even if we look at the current scenario, square seals are mostly used in trade.
Materials used in making seals:
Harappans mostly used soft stone, steatite, found in river beds for making seals. Apart from this, they used agate, chert, copper faience, and terracotta-baked clay. Evidence of gold and ivory seals has also been found at some excavation sites.
Script of seals:
Pictographic scripts have been found on most of the seals. Which has not been read to date. This script was written from right to left.
But in some places, it has been found in the form of a bi-directional writing style; that is, in one line it has been found from right to left, and in the other line it has been found from left to right. Animal figures (mostly five animals) are also present on them, which have been engraved on the surface. Generally, there is a motif of animals like humped bulls, donkeys, tigers, elephants, buffalo, bison, goats, crocodiles, etc. As far as the remains found in the excavation are concerned, no evidence of a cow has been found so far.
Generally, seals have animal or human figures printed on one side and inscriptions on the other side, and sometimes inscriptions are present on both sides, and some seals have inscriptions on the third side as well.
Use of Seals:
Seals would have been used mainly for trade, but they would have also been the main means of communication. seals with holes have been found with the dead bodies; this clearly shows that they would have been used as amulets to show their identity. Somewhere, mathematical figures are printed on some seals. Probably, they would have been used for educational skills. A seal with the symbol ‘swastika’ has also been found. This shows that they also had knowledge of directions.
Bronze Statues:-
Harappa was famous for the large-scale casting of bronze in the civilization. Bronze statues were made using the ‘lost wax technique.’.
Lost wax technique:
In the lost wax technique, a layer of wet clay was applied to the wax statues, and it was dried. After this, the statues coated with clay were heated, and when heated, the wax would melt and come out of a small hole. After removing the wax, a hollow of clay would be formed, and molten metal was poured into the hollow. Then when the metal cooled down, the clay coating was removed, and a shape of the same shape as the wax shape was prepared from bronze.
"Even today, using this technique, statues are cast in many parts of the country."
Statue of a dancing girl:
The statue of a dancing girl is one of the oldest bronze statues in the world. This 4-inch statue found during excavation in Mohenjo Daro depicts a woman in a naked state wearing only jewelry. It has bangles in its left hand and bracelets and amulets in its right hand. It is standing in the Trimang dance position with its right hand on its hip, and this statue was discovered by British archaeologist Ernest Mackay in Mohenjo Daro in 1926.
Terracotta:
Baked clay is used to make terracotta statues. Terracotta statues have been found less in number as compared to bronze statues. They were made using the 'pinching method.' Most of the terracotta statues have been found in Lothal and Kalibangan in Gujarat.
What is the pinching method?
The pinching method is a method of making pottery and statues by hand that has been used from ancient times to the present. By this method, clay is given the shape of statues in a very artistic manner using the fingers of the hand, which were very decorative and beautiful.
Some examples of terracotta are
- Mother Goddess,
- Mask of the horned god,
- Toys, etc.
Pottery:
The pottery found during excavation is divided into two parts, for example.
- Plain pottery
- Painted pottery
Painted pottery is also called red and black ware because red color is used to paint the background and black color is used to bring shine.
Ornaments:
The people of the Harappan civilization used precious metals and gems to make ornaments, and some evidence during excavation shows that baked clay and other materials were used to make ornaments.
"Both men and women used to wear ornaments like Kandhaar, plaques, falcons, bands, rings, etc."
"Girls, earrings, and anklets were worn only by women."
"Beads made of cohosh, steatite, sapphire, etc. were quite famous and were produced on a large scale at Chandhuddo and Lothal."
The people of the Harappan and Indus Valley Civilizations used cotton and wool for clothes. These were spun by the rich and the poor alike without any discrimination.
The people of the Harappan and Indus Valley civilizations were very fashion-conscious. From the evidence obtained from some excavations, it has been inferred that the people of the Indus Valley Civilization used different styles of hair and beard.
Conclusion:-
The use of seals by the people of the Indus Valley Civilization is not at all different from the use of seals in the present time. Seals are the identity of the market, the prestige of position, the brand of business; all this has been happening since ancient times, and all this is happening in the present time. We have learned and understood a lot from our past. From the making of statues to the making of utensils to weaving clothes to making jewelry. Indian architecture and sculpture have been seen and understood by the people as a unique example. Indian architecture, sculpture, art, and culture are the ancient heritage of the Indian people. The Indian people are preserving it very well and taking the ancient tradition forward.
