🤯 Did You Know (click to read)
Surkotada was excavated by the Archaeological Survey of India in the 1970s.
Surkotada, located in Gujarat, India, was occupied during the Mature Harappan phase. Excavations uncovered fortified walls built of mudbrick and stone, forming a defensive perimeter. The settlement layout suggests internal zoning between residential and administrative areas. Horse bones discovered at the site have generated scholarly debate about early domestication in South Asia. The fortifications reflect concerns about security or resource protection. Unlike some Indus cities without massive defensive structures, Surkotada emphasized enclosure. Construction required coordinated labor. Defensive planning complemented civic organization. Regional variation characterized Indus urbanism.
💥 Impact (click to read)
Fortified settlements reveal that not all Indus communities were equally open in design. Defense investment implies perceived external threats or control of valuable trade routes. Resource protection becomes priority in expanding networks. Architectural variation suggests decentralized governance rather than rigid uniformity. Strategic planning diversified urban models. Security shaped settlement morphology. Walls signaled authority.
For residents inside fortified gates, daily life balanced routine with vigilance. The irony lies in how a civilization often described as peaceful still constructed strong defenses in certain regions. Uniform narratives obscure local nuance. Surkotada demonstrates adaptation over assumption.
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