How do archaeologists classify their finds in harappan civilization?
Answers
When it comes to understanding Harappan Civilization archaeologist have to use material evidences because till now the script has not been deciphered. So when archaelogist when they find new materials certain steps are taken to classify this material so that it could be easier to study.
1. The finds are classified according to their material, that is what it is made out of for example bones, clay, ivory, stones, or metal etc.
2. Secondly it is classified on the level of its fuctions. Here archaeologists have to decide whether, for instance, an artefact is a tool or an ornament, or both, or something meant for ritual use.
Here are the ways in which archaeologist classify the finds according to their function:
1. By how they resembles present day objects, for example beads, querns, stone blades and pots are few example.
2. Context in which it was found, for example was it found in a house, in a drain, in a grave, in a kiln etc.
3. Recourse to indirect evidence- For instance, though there are traces of cotton at some Harappan sites, to find out about clothing we have to depend on indirect evidence including depictions in sculpture.
4. Developing frames of reference- We have seen that the first Harappan seal that was found could not be understood till archaeologists had a context in which to place it – both in terms of the cultural sequence in which it was found, and in terms of a comparison with finds in Mesopotamia.