Question

Types of weights and measures harappan people used

Answer 1

They usually proceeded in a series, doubling from 1 i.e. like 1,2,4,8,16…64. They also had decimal multiples of 16. (Decimal in the sense that a unit is made up of 16 parts. Remember zero ‘0’ has not yet come into practice.)

Excavation works have found several measuring sticks. It is beleived that Harapan were the authors of linear system of measurement. A unit was measured as 'angula' (this has been described in Arthasastra also) which was still used in India until recently.

Answer 2

Cubical weights in graduated sizes.These weights conform to the standard Harappan binary weight system that was used in all of the settlements. The smallest weight in this series is 0.856 grams and the most common weight is approximately 13.7 grams, which is in the 16th ratio. In the large weights the system become a decimal increase where the largest weight is 100 times the weight of the 16th ratio in the binary system. These weights were found in recent excavations at Harappa and may have been used for controlling trade and possibly for collecting taxes.
Harappa Archaeological Research Project.