Nandita Reddy
Independent Researcher
Telangana, India
Abstract
Urban centers of the Mature Harappan phase (c. 2600–1900 BCE) of the Indus Valley Civilization exemplify one of the earliest large-scale applications of engineered water management to support dense populations, sanitation, and urban resilience. This expanded analysis synthesizes archaeological, geoarchaeological, and hydrological data to trace the evolution, design rationales, and social frameworks underpinning Harappan hydraulic infrastructures at Mohenjo-daro, Harappa, and Dholavira. Drawing on bulk sediment analyses, brick typology studies, and remote sensing imagery, we demonstrate how standardized brick production and modular design facilitated rapid construction, maintenance, and inter-site knowledge transfer. We investigate well spacing patterns to infer per-capita water allocations, evaluate drain gradients for optimal self-cleansing flows, and model reservoir capacities relative to climatic seasonality. Our findings reveal that Harappan planners employed both centralized planning—evidenced by grid-aligned drains beneath public thoroughfares—and decentralized management, as indicated by neighborhood-level well clusters and local maintenance features. Communal reservoirs at Dholavira functioned as both water storage and civic gathering spaces, underscoring the dual utilitarian and symbolic roles of water. We argue that the hydraulic competence of Harappan cities fostered public health through effective waste removal, bolstered agricultural surpluses by securing reliable water supplies, and reinforced socio-political cohesion via shared infrastructure. This research contributes to understanding the interplay between technology, environment, and social organization in early urban centers and offers insights for contemporary sustainable water governance in arid regions.
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