The Earliest Civilization of South Asia (Rise, Maturity and Decline)/B.B. Lal. 1997, xxi, 308 p., 125 halftone illustrations, 32 colour plates, maps, figs, $119.
Contents: Preface. I. The background: 1. Introductory. 2. The face of the land. 3. The cultural mosaic in the third millennium BC. 4. The antecedents and birth of the earliest civilization. II. The civilization at its maturity: 5. An overview. 6. Major excavated sites: i. Mohenjo-daro. ii. Chanhu-daro. iii. Harappa. iv. Nausharo. v. Kalibangan. vi. Banawali. vii. Lothal. viii. Surkotada. ix. Dholavira. 7. Some other noteworthy sites. 8. The economy: A. Land and marine resources: i. Agriculture. ii. Animal husbandry. iii. Forest and mineral wealth. iv. Marine resources. B. Arts and crafts: i. Metals. ii. Art in stone. iii. Glyptic art. iv. Of clay : terracottas and pottery. v. Ivory. vi. Shell. vii. Lapidary. viii. Stone tools and other artefacts. C. Trade and commerce: 9. Script and language. 10. Disposal of the dead. 11. Religion. 12. Social stratification and political set-up. 13. Chronological horizon. III. The decline: 14. The decline and legacy. Appendix. Bibliography. Index.
"The most ancient civilization of south Asia, variously known as the Harappan, Indus or Indus-Sarasvati Civilization, far excelled its contemporaries in other parts of Asia in a number of ways. Not only did it cover a much greater area than did any other civilization, but it also produced urban centres, duly fortified and characterized by meticulous town planning, efficient drainage system, etc. The book presents a multidimensional study of this grand civilization.
"Some scholars have held that this south Asian civilization was an import from the west. When called upon to produce concrete evidenc, they fumbled and took shelter under the theory ideas have wings. The book demonstrates that almost all the characteristic features of this civilization had indigenous origin.
"The Harappan script still remains undeciphered. The book points out where the various decipheres have gone wrong. It further shows that even no two Dravidianists see eye to eye nor do two Sanskritists.
"The book brings out an interesting picture of the social stratification of the Harappans. An in-depth analysis of the various kinds of data clinches the issue about the dating of the mature state of the civilization : from circa 2600 to 1900 BC." (jacket)
[Prof. B.B. Lal was the Director General, of the Archaeological Survey of India from 1968 to 1972. His books include Frontiers of the Indus Civilization : Sir Mortimer Commemoration Volume.
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