General Description
The Pre-Urban period in the Indus Valley, also known as the Early Harappan or Early Indus, started around 3200 and ended around 2600 BCE. Here we extend it to include the transitional century or so between the Early and the Mature Harappan. This period was characterized by the spread of farming communities across the Indus Basin, reaching as far as the Upper Ganga-Yamuna Doab in modern-day North India. Overall, this was not a period of great innovation, but precursors of writing appear to have emerged at this time, and, together with the appearance of seals and weights, these point to a shift in organizational complexity.
[1]
Population and political organization
No population estimates could be found in the literature. There is also no clear picture of political organization at this time - seals have been found in relevant archaeological contexts, but the existence of a bureaucratic apparatus remains unlikely.
[2]
[1]: (McIntosh 2008, 67-72) McIntosh, Jane. 2008. The Ancient Indus Valley. Santa Barbara; Denver; Oxford: ABC-CLIO. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/5P92SHE8.
[2]: A. Ceccarelli, personal communication to E. Cioni, February 2017.
unknown [---] |
Indus Civilisation |
Kachi Plain - Urban Period I |
continuity |
Preceding: Kachi Plain - Chalcolithic (pk_kachi_ca) [continuity] | |
Succeeding: Kachi Plain - Urban Period I (pk_kachi_urban_1) [continuity] |
quasi-polity |
Year Range | Kachi Plain - Pre-Urban Period (pk_kachi_pre_urban) was in: |
---|---|
(3200 BCE 2501 BCE) | Kachi Plain |
Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Utm Zone | 42 R | Confident Expert | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Original Name | Kachi Plain - Pre-Urban Period | Confident Expert | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Capital | unknown | Confident Expert | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Alternative Name | Early Harappan | Confident Expert | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Suprapolity Relations | unknown [---] | Confident Expert | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Supracultural Entity | Indus Civilisation | Confident Expert | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Succeeding Entity | Kachi Plain - Urban Period I | Confident Expert | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Relationship to Preceding Entity | continuity | Confident Expert | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Preceding Entity
4000 BCE 3200 BCE
|
Kachi Plain - Chalcolithic (pk_kachi_ca) [continuity] | Confident Expert | |||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Succeeding Entity
2500 BCE 2100 BCE
|
Kachi Plain - Urban Period I (pk_kachi_urban_1) [continuity] | Confident Expert | |||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Degree of Centralization | quasi-polity | Confident Expert | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More |
---|
Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Settlement Hierarchy | [2 to 3] | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Religious Level | 1 | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Military Level | [0 to 1] | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Administrative Level | [1 to 2] | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Specialized Government Building | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Merit Promotion | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Full Time Bureaucrat | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Examination System | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mines or Quarry | Unknown | Suspected | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Written Record | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Script | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Phonetic Alphabetic Writing | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Nonwritten Record | Unknown | Suspected | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Non Phonetic Writing | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Mnemonic Device | Unknown | Suspected | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Scientific Literature | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Sacred Text | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Religious Literature | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Practical Literature | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Philosophy | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Lists Tables and Classification | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
History | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Fiction | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Calendar | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Token | Present | Inferred | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Precious Metal | Unknown | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Paper Currency | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Indigenous Coin | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Foreign Coin | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Postal Station | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
General Postal Service | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Courier | Absent | Inferred | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More |
---|
Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wooden Palisade | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Stone Walls Non Mortared | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Stone Walls Mortared | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Settlements in a Defensive Position | Absent | Inferred | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Modern Fortification | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Moat | Unknown | Suspected | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Fortified Camp | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Earth Rampart | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Ditch | Unknown | Suspected | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Complex Fortification | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Long Wall | absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tension Siege Engine | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Sling Siege Engine | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Sling | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Self Bow | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Javelin | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Handheld Firearm | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Gunpowder Siege Artillery | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Crossbow | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Composite Bow | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Atlatl | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
War Club | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Sword | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Spear | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Polearm | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Dagger | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Battle Axe | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Horse | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Elephant | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Donkey | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Dog | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Camel | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wood Bark Etc | Unknown | Suspected | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Shield | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Scaled Armor | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Plate Armor | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Limb Protection | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Leather Cloth | Unknown | Suspected | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Laminar Armor | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Helmet | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Chainmail | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Breastplate | Absent | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad | Unknown | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary | Unknown | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic | Unknown | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Moralizing Enforcement in This Life | Unknown | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward | Unknown | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners | Unknown | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted | Unknown | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife | Unknown | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites | Unknown | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers | Unknown | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Moralizing Enforcement is Certain | Unknown | Confident | 3200 BCE 2500 BCE | ||||||||
Loading...
|
|||||||||||
Variable | Coded Value | Tags | Year(s) | See More |
---|