Complete account of Artefacts found at Mohen-Jo-Daro

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Artefacts Found at Mohenjo-daro

Excavations at Mohen-jo-Daro (1922 onwards) revealed a rich material culture reflecting the daily life, beliefs, economy, and artistic sophistication of the Indus Valley Civilization (c. 2600–1900 BCE). The artefacts found here are among the most important from any Bronze Age civilization.

1. Sculptures and Figurines

The “Priest-King” Sculpture

  • Material: Steatite (soapstone)
  • Features: Bearded face, half-closed eyes, trefoil-patterned shawl
  • Significance: Possibly a ritual leader or elite figure; shows advanced stone carving and textile depiction
  • Shawl patterns on the Priest-King indicate woven or embroidered textiles

The “Dancing Girl”

  • Material: Bronze (lost-wax casting)
  • Height: ~10.5 cm
  • Features: Confident posture, bangles, minimal clothing
  • Significance: Demonstrates metallurgical skill and expressive art; suggests social acceptance of dance and performance

Terracotta Figurines

  • Mostly female figures, animals, carts, toys
  • Often interpreted as fertility figures or domestic objects
  • Provide insight into clothing, ornaments, and hairstyles

2. Seals and Sealings

  • Material: Steatite
  • Shapes: Mostly square
  • Designs: Animals (unicorn, bull, elephant, rhinoceros), mythic motifs
  • Script: Indus script (still undeciphered)
  • Use: Trade, ownership marks, administration, ritual symbolism
  • These seals were found not only locally but also in Mesopotamia, proving long-distance trade.

3. Jewelry and Ornaments

  • Materials used:
    • Gold
    • Silver
    • Copper
    • Shell
    • Carnelian
    • Lapis lazuli
    • Agate
    • Faience
  • Types:
    • Necklaces
    • Bangles
    • Beads
    • Earrings
    • Head ornaments

The bead-making industry at Mohenjo-daro was highly advanced and standardized.

4. Pottery and Ceramics

  • Red ware pottery with black painted designs
  • Common motifs:
    • Geometric patterns
    • Plants
    • Fish
    • Peepal leaves
  • Forms:
    • Storage jars
    • Bowls
    • Plates
    • Goblets

Pottery shows both mass production and artistic variation.

5. Tools and Implements

  • Copper and bronze tools:
    • Knives
    • Axes
    • Saws
    • Chisels
    • Fish hooks
  • Stone tools:
    • Grinding stones
    • Blades
  • Bone tools:
    • Needles
    • Awls

These indicate agriculture, fishing, carpentry, and craft production.

6. Weights and Measures

  • Cubical stone weights made of chert
  • Follow a precise binary system (1, 2, 4, 8, 16…)
  • Used for trade and taxation
  • Indicates a regulated economy and standardized commerce

7. Household Objects

  • Clay lamps
  • Mirrors (copper/bronze)
  • Combs
  • Dice (possibly gaming pieces)
  • Spindles and spindle whorls (textile production)

These objects give a close view of domestic life.

8. Religious and Ritual Objects

  • Fire altars (debated interpretation)
  • Animal figurines used in rituals
  • Amulets
  • Great Bath (not an artefact, but a ritual structure)

Suggest ritual cleanliness and symbolic practices rather than monumental temples.

9. Textiles and Impressions

  • Actual cloth rarely survives
  • Cotton fibers and textile impressions found on pottery
  • Shows early cotton cultivation and weaving
  • Shawl patterns on the Priest-King indicate woven or embroidered textiles

Why These Artefacts Matter

The artefacts of Mohenjo-daro reveal a civilization that valued:

  • Urban order over monumentality
  • Hygiene over grandeur
  • Trade over conquest
  • Art integrated into daily life

Unlike many ancient cultures, Mohenjo-daro left no grand palaces or war monuments, making its artefacts the primary voice of its people.

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