In mohanjodaro an assembly hall for the city government
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What was this enormous building in Mohenjo-daro used for? "The northern portion of Block 4 (Image 1)," in the L Area wrote the archaeologist John Marshall, "was originally a large hall of the Intermediate Period which appears to have been entirely covered ink the roof being supported by twenty rectangular piers averaging 5 feet by 3 ft. 4 in. in thickness. Owing to alterations which were made later, not all these piers can be now traced, but we have undoubted evidence that originally there were five piers in each row; two rows n the western side of the hall are intact. The two eastern rows are not so well preserved, but traces of the two piers still remain in the row on the extreme east, which are slightly thinner in the E._w. direction i.e. 3 fee thick instead of 3 ft. 6 in. The distances between the piers in the same row average 9 ft. 7 in., the variation never exceeding 3 inches. This remarkable accuracy was not observed in the spacing of the rows; for the three western aisles vary in width from 14 ft. 2 in. to 15 feet, where the two easternmost rows are 13 ft. 6 in. apart. This lay-out is, on the whole, very satisfactory, and argues great proficiency on the part of the masons. Gypsum as well as mud-mortar was used in erecting these columns, as elsewhere in the building. The bricks were laid out in alternate headers and stretchers, closers being used to break the perpends where required. The masonry, however, does not show the same skill as the lay-out, the joints between bricks varying considerably (4). The sizes of the bricks used were: –11 by 2.25 by 5.5 inches; 11.25 by 2.25 by 5.5 inches; 10.74 by 2.5 by 5.4 inches. The bricks used in the later portions measure 10 by 2.75 by 5 inches and 11 by 2.5 by 5.5 inches.