ARTIFACTS

ARTIFACT A: CHESS/BOARD GAME

It is thought that chess began in India in the 6th century. But was it developed from a similar game from the time of the Indus Civilization?

People in the Indus Valley played board games like this, moving pieces between squares.

ARTIFACT B: DICE/ MAZE

Dice and mazes from before 2000 BC, made from stone and used in games by Indus people.

ARTIFACT C: STAMP SEALS

Carved pieces of stone were pressed into clay used to seal packages of trade goods. The impressions on the seals often listed the contents, or the origin, or the destination, or the amount of goods in the package, or all of the above.

Over 3,500 seals have now been found. Most are square or oblong, and small, about 25 mm across. They are made from steatite or faience, usually baked hard. Each seal has a picture and writing on it, carved with a copper tool.

ARTIFACT D: SEALS

Many seals have pictures of animals on them. Animals on seals include elephants, rhinoceros, tigers, fish-eating crocodiles (gharial) and zebu (humped cattle).

These Seals were used to showOwnership. They were also Carried as a good luck charm.

The most commonly pictured animal on Indus seals is a 'unicorn'. In ancient stories, the unicorn was a mythical beast, usually looking like a horse, with one horn.Some people think the Indus Valley 'unicorn' is really a cow sideways-on. It may have been a 'good luck' charm, or the badge of an important group of traders.

ARTIFACT E: COPPER AND BRONZE WEAPONS

These are copper and bronze spearsUsed for protection. It is unclearWhether or not the Indus CivilizationsHad soldiers. There is no art depictingWar, their leaders were priests, andThe walls around their cities were notVery strong. Many historians think theyWere peaceful people.

These weapons were probably usedAs protection against animals.

ARTIFACT F: HEAD OF A FEMALE WITH A TIARA

A female figurine from Harappa with a "tiara" attached to the front of the fan-shaped headdress. 

ARTIFACT G: SHELL BANGLE OR BRACELETS

Archaeologists have found evidence that Indus Valley people wore lots of jewelry, especially beads, necklaces, ear-rings and ear-studs, amulets, bangles and brooches.

At Harappa, archaeologists found the grave of a man, who was buried wearing a necklace of more than 300 soapstone beads. People also liked bangles made from conch shells. Shell bangles are still made in India today.

Red beads were made by heating carnelian stones in an oven. The heat turned the stone from brown to red. After it had cooled, the stone was chipped to shape the bead. Using a stone drill, the bead-maker drilled a hole for the string. Finally, the bead was polished smooth and shiny.