‘The burials in Harappan sites reveal the economic and social differences amongst the people living within a particular culture.’ Give two evidences in support of your answer.

The Harappan civilisation was one of the earliest and the most advanced civilisation in the world. The civilisation was spread in the cities of the Sind in Pakistan and Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab in India. The civilisation flourished in the area with the development of many cites like the Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro, Lothal, Cholistan and many others.

To understand the social or economic differences amongst people living within a particular culture, different techniques are used. One of the major methodology for this is the detailed studying of burials. The burials in the Harappan sites also depicted differences that could be identified as a difference in the economic and social status of the people. Some of the important findings are:

• The dead were buried and placed in pits in the Harappan sites. In some burials, the hollowed-out spaces within the burial chamber were lined with bricks. This difference in the pattern of burial indicates the socio-economic differences amongst the people.

• The dead were buried with pottery, ornaments and other artefacts, indicating a belief of the existence of an afterlife. Jewellery was found buried with the dead in the burials of both men and women. The dead were buried with copper mirrors in many cases. All these indicated the possibility of the existence of an afterlife. But, no precious things were found buried with the dead. This difference in the burial of items indicates the socio-economic differences amongst the people.