Detailed Summary
The Harappan civilization, also known as the Indus Valley Civilization, exhibited diverse subsistence strategies that significantly impacted their diet and survival. Sites across the Harappan region indicate that the inhabitants consumed various plant and animal products, grounded in agricultural practices that date back to earlier communities.
Dietary Practices
Archaeological findings suggest that the Harappans enjoyed a varied diet that included grains such as wheat, barley, lentils, and millets. Additionally, evidence from archaeo-zoology indicates the domestication of animals like cattle, sheep, goats, and buffalo, which played a crucial role in their agricultural and dietary life. Fish remains also found at various archaeological sites suggest that they had access to aquatic resources.
Agricultural Technologies
The Harappans practiced sophisticated agricultural techniques. Archaeological evidence, such as ploughed fields and tools, hints at organized farming. The use of oxen for ploughing is implied through artifacts and seals depicting bulls. Traces of irrigation, including canals and water reservoirs, point to an understanding of water management critical for sustaining agriculture in semi-arid environments.
Conclusion
Understanding these subsistence strategies not only sheds light on agricultural practices in the Harappan civilization but also reveals the complex interaction between environment and human adaptation.