🤯 Did You Know (click to read)
Some pre-Harappan drainage systems were adapted and expanded in Mature Harappan cities such as Mohenjo-daro.
Archaeological evidence from sites predating mature Indus cities shows rudimentary drainage channels along streets and adjacent to dwellings. These systems managed wastewater and storm runoff, preventing waterlogging in densely occupied areas. Stone and mudbrick constructions guided flow into small collection basins or natural depressions. Early examples demonstrate understanding of hydrology and civic planning. Such infrastructure suggests organized labor and regulatory oversight. By the time Mohenjo-daro and Harappa were built, engineers expanded these concepts into covered brick sewers. Knowledge of drainage evolved incrementally. Early systems reflect environmental adaptation and urban foresight. Practical engineering preceded monumental architecture. Water management shaped early urban life.
💥 Impact (click to read)
Primitive drainage networks enabled population concentration and urban growth. Public health, sanitation, and environmental management were embedded in civic planning. Standardized layouts indicate coordination across households and neighborhoods. Early systems facilitated agricultural irrigation and waste disposal. Infrastructure investment reflects social and administrative organization. Technology anticipates later urban sophistication. Resilient settlements relied on engineered water solutions.
For residents, the channels reduced disease risk and environmental disruption. The irony lies in how mundane drains reveal more about civic coordination than monumental structures. Civilization thrives on hidden infrastructure as much as visible symbols. Early drains prefigure urban resilience.
Source
Encyclopaedia Britannica - Indus civilization infrastructure
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