Identifying Centres of Production in the Harappan Civilization
In the Harappan civilization, archaeologists employ several strategies to pinpoint centres of craft production. Key indicators include the presence of raw materials such as stone nodules, shells, and copper ore, as well as tools, unfinished objects, and the organic waste materials leftover from the crafting process. Such waste often provides crucial insights into the techniques and scale of the production activities. For example, when shell or stone is processed to create artefacts, the leftover pieces serve as evidence of the crafting activities that occurred at the site.
Moreover, specialized centres such as Chanhudaro were identified explicitly for their dedicated craft production, like bead-making and shell-cutting. This connection emphasizes the economic interdependence of the Harappan society, where certain settlements were known for specific crafts. The ability to trace these production centres enhances our understanding of the broader economic and trade networks that characterized this ancient civilization, highlighting the complexity and the level of sophistication achieved during the Early Harappan phases.