🐘 Animals of the Harappan Civilization

✍️ Shariq Ali
Valueversity

For curious minds from ages 8 to 80

One of the most important pieces of evidence about the animals of the ancient Harappan civilization 🏺 comes from small terracotta figurines. These figurines not only confirm the presence of various animals but also offer insights into their relationship with humans and their cultural significance.

Here are some fascinating examples:

1. 🦏 Rhinoceros — Terracotta rhinoceros figurines have been found at Harappa, even though the animal is now extinct in that region.
2. 🦌 Deer — Figurines of deer with branching antlers likely point to hunting traditions.
3. 🐻 Bear — Figurines of the Asiatic bear have been found, often depicted in a distinct sitting posture.
4. 🐘 Elephant — Figurines showing elephants with flat ears, a broken trunk, and a simple head design have been discovered.
5. 🐂 Zebu — Beautifully painted figurines of zebu (humped cattle) have been excavated from Harappa.
6. 🐰 Rabbit — Figurines with long ears, most likely representing rabbits, are also part of the collection.
7. 🐐 Markhor — The collection includes terracotta representations of the mountain goat, Markhor.
8. 🐒 Monkey — Figurines of monkeys shown sitting in specific postures have also been found.
9. 🐏 Ram — Uniquely patterned figurines of rams with dark stripes and markings are among the discoveries.
10. 🐢 Turtle — Terracotta turtles, some with clearly defined shells, have also been recovered.

🔍 These figurines reflect how deeply the ancient Harappan people valued animals in their daily lives, beliefs, and cultural expressions.

📸 For more images and detailed information, don’t forget to check out Sharri Clark’s visual slideshow “Embodying Indus Life” on Harappa.com.