Question

Imagine you are doing research on Harappan beads and jewellery. Which three aspects would you understand about Harappan craft production and trade from it ? Explain.

Hint:

Chanhudaro is the best example of a specialized bead-making and seal-making urban center. Harappan beads are found as far as Mesopotamia, proving the scale of their trade.

Answer 1

Concept:

• Harappan craft production was highly specialized, with specific sites dedicated to manufacturing.
• Material remains serve as evidence for trade routes and economic complexity.

Step 1: Identifying technological specialization
The variety of materials used, such as carnelian, jasper, and steatite, shows advanced knowledge of lithic technology.
Sophisticated drilling and firing techniques were employed to create intricate beads, indicating a specialized craft-person class.

Step 2: Determining trade networks
The sourcing of raw materials from distant regions (e.g., Lapis Lazuli from Afghanistan, Shell from coastal regions) highlights an extensive, well-connected trade network.

Step 3: Analyzing economic organization
Concentrated workshops (like those at Chanhudaro) reveal that production was not domestic but a large-scale, organized industrial activity, likely overseen by a central authority.