Bathing area and latrine in Harappa town

The bathing areas and walled latrine are located on the interior edge of the courtyard that touches the street. The drain from the bathinga area runs through the wall and falls directly into the street drain. Piles of firewood and an inverted cooking pot drying on a rack are seen on the left. 

Modern terraced courtyard in Harappa town

This courtyard of a modern house in Harappa town, has an upper level in front of the house that is plastered and has a small entryway that can be blocked to keep out animals. Drinking water is kept in earthenware pots on a wooden stand. The lower level of the courtyard is shaded by a large jujube fruit tree. Goats are tethered in the shade of the tree. In corner is an old oven (tandoor) being used as a shelf to hold water pots. Niches in the wall are used to hold lamps at night. 

Modern Latrine Drain at Harappa town

Latrines located inside a courtyard of modern Harappa town have drains that fall directly into the open street drain. (See Indus 1, Slide 12 for an ancient bathing platform.) 

Banded limestone ringstone, Mohenjodaro

This large ringstone is made of banded yellow and red-brown limestone. Sourcing studies of different varieties of limestone conducted by Randall Law, of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, suggest that this ringstone may have been brought to the Mohenjo-daro from quarries that have been located near the site of Dholavira in Kutch.  and Harappa ringstone in Indus.

White limestone ringstone

Numerous ringstones made from white limestone have been recovered from Mohenjo-daro. Sometimes several have been found together, but none are in their original position of use. Discoveries of similar ringstones in the gateways at the site of Dholavira (See the Ancient Indus Region Map in Indus 2, Slide 161.) suggest that they may have been used as the base of wooden columns. Small dowel holes are often found on one side. It is possible that several of the ringstones were stacked with a wooden pole running through the center. A miniature version of such a ringstone column made from shell rings has been reported from the site of Dholavira.]

Camels waiting to cross the Indus River near Mohenjo-daro

Although long distance travel on the Indus River is no longer feasible due to the construction of barrages and dams, local trade of firewood and other daily necessities is still moved up and down or across the river. Camels carrying grain wait for the ferry boat and an ox cart waits for passengers from across the river. A large pile of wood lies ready to be shipped down stream.

UM Area, unexcavated houses

These rooms of a house are located at the edge of the area excavated by Dr. G. F. Dales in 1964 (UM Area). The room has a nodule floor fill and clearly defined fired brick walls. These vitrified nodules were intentionally created as a form of artificial gravel for use in construction.