The Indus Civilization: A Contemporary Perspective

by Gregory L. Possehl

Overview

The Indus Civilization of India and Pakistan was contemporary with, and equally complex as the better-known cultures of Mesopotamia, Egypt and China. The dean of North American Indus scholars, Gregory Possehl, attempts here to marshal the state of knowledge about this fascinating culture in a readable synthesis. He traces the rise and fall of this civilization, examines the economic, architectural, artistic, religious, and intellectual components of this culture, describes its most famous sites, and shows the relationships between the Indus Civilization and the other cultures of its time. As a sourcebook for scholars, a textbook for archaeology students, and an informative volume for the lay reader, The Indus Civilization will be an exciting and informative read.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780759101715
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	11/11/2002
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.69(d)

About the Author

GREGORY L. POSSEHL is a professor of Anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania and Curator of the Asian Collections at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. He has been engaged in archaeological research in Indian and Pakistan since 1964, from Iron Age megaliths to Mesolithic encampments, including directing excavations at Rojdi in Gujarat and Gilund in southern Rajasthan. Possehl has written and edited a number of important books on the Indus Civilization and related topics.

Table of Contents

1 Preface/ The Indus Age/ Beginnings/ The Indus Civilization/ Technology/ Architecture/ Art/ Script/ Religion/ Burial Customs and Biological Diversity/ Gender/ Mohenjo-Daro/ The Middle Asian Interaction Sphere/ The Transformation of the Indus Civilization/

Editorial Reviews

This volume offers the best description and analysis of the nature of [Indus] civilization. Illustrated with an abundance of line drawings, charts, and maps, the volume richly illuminates architecture, material culture, and arts and crafts....Offering thebest available presentation of the Indus civilization, this volume successfully fulfills the needs of both general readers and specialists...Essential...[f]or all those interested in ancient civilizationssss” —C.C. Lamberg-Karlovsky, Harvard University, Choice Reviews

“Possehl's book is more detailed, and in particular highlights his ability to synthesize information into a coherent whole. In addition he offers a number of hypotheses that will serve as catalysts for academic debate.” —London Times Higher Education Supplement

“This book by a well-known anthropologist puts together all that is known about this fascinating culture. He examines the economic, agricultural, religious and artistic aspects of this ancient civilisation and draws some startling conclusions...[The] explosive observations of the author, who...has done extensive research on the Indus civilisation, make this volume valuable for scholars, students and lay readers alike...he makes the riddle of the Indus Age all the more enigmatic.” —Jaswant Singh, The Sunday Tribune- Spectrum

“...makes an important contribution to the archaeology of South Asia by bringing together a large body of information from an area that has generally been ignored and misunderstood by nonspecialists.” —Michael P. Neeley, Montana State University, American Antiquity

“An accessible volume for the nonspecialist...There is a great need for such a book...the work is refreshing: Possehl takes strong stands on a variety of issues, but he presents his perspective clearly and in ways that can contribute to productive classroom discussions...this book will make a valuable launching point for undergraduate and graduate courses on South Asian archaeology or comparative courses on early states and civilizations.” —Carla M. Sinopoli, University of Michigan, Journal of Anthropological Research

“A succinct but thorough and comprehensive textbook, readable, clearly arranged and invitingly designed, The Indus is a most welcome guide to a topic widely known of but not easy, until now, to learn more about.” —Antiquity

“The Indus civilization was one of the most important complex societies in the pre-industrial world. But despite significant archaeological attention over the years, it remains one of the most enigmatic civilizations to both scholars and the general public alike. Professor Possehl's engagingly written and well-illustrated book sheds useful new light on the Indus Age and makes recent scholarly advances readily accessible to a broad range of readers, especially students of the ancient world.” —Jeremy A. Sabloff, University of Pennsylvania Museum

“This volume offers the best description and analysis of the nature of [Indus] civilization. Illustrated with an abundance of line drawings, charts, and maps, the volume richly illuminates architecture, material culture, and arts and crafts....Offering the best available presentation of the Indus civilization, this volume successfully fulfills the needs of both general readers and specialists...Essential...[f]or all those interested in ancient civilizations” —C.C. Lamberg-Karlovsky, Harvard University, Choice Reviews

From the Publisher

This book by a well-known anthropologist puts together all that is known about this fascinating culture. He examines the economic, agricultural, religious and artistic aspects of this ancient civilisation and draws some startling conclusions...[The] explosive observations of the author, who...has done extensive research on the Indus civilisation, make this volume valuable for scholars, students and lay readers alike...he makes the riddle of the Indus Age all the more enigmatic.

The Sunday Tribune- Spectrum - Jaswant Singh

The Indus civilization was one of the most important complex societies in the pre-industrial world. But despite significant archaeological attention over the years, it remains one of the most enigmatic civilizations to both scholars and the general public alike. Professor Possehl's engagingly written and well-illustrated book sheds useful new light on the Indus Age and makes recent scholarly advances readily accessible to a broad range of readers, especially students of the ancient world.

Jeremy A. Sabloff

An accessible volume for the nonspecialist...There is a great need for such a book...the work is refreshing: Possehl takes strong stands on a variety of issues, but he presents his perspective clearly and in ways that can contribute to productive classroom discussions...this book will make a valuable launching point for undergraduate and graduate courses on South Asian archaeology or comparative courses on early states and civilizations.

Journal of Anthropological Research - Carla M. Sinopoli

A succinct but thorough and comprehensive textbook, readable, clearly arranged and invitingly designed, The Indus is a most welcome guide to a topic widely known of but not easy, until now, to learn more about.

Antiquity

...makes an important contribution to the archaeology of South Asia by bringing together a large body of information from an area that has generally been ignored and misunderstood by nonspecialists.

American Antiquity, Vol. 69, No. 1, 2004 - Michael P. Neeley

Possehl's book is more detailed, and in particular highlights his ability to synthesize information into a coherent whole. In addition he offers a number of hypotheses that will serve as catalysts for academic debate.

London Times Higher Education Supplement

This volume offers the best description and analysis of the nature of [Indus] civilization. Illustrated with an abundance of line drawings, charts, and maps, the volume richly illuminates architecture, material culture, and arts and crafts....Offering the best available presentation of the Indus civilization, this volume successfully fulfills the needs of both general readers and specialists...Essential...[f]or all those interested in ancient civilizations

CHOICE, June 2003 - C.C. Lamberg-Karlovsky

This book by a well-known anthropologist puts together all that is known about this fascinating culture. He examines the economic, agricultural, religious and artistic aspects of this ancient civilisation and draws some startling conclusions...[The] explosive observations of the author, who...has done extensive research on the Indus civilisation, make this volume valuable for scholars, students and lay readers alike...he makes the riddle of the Indus Age all the more enigmatic.
— Jaswant Singh

The Sunday Tribune- Spectrum

...makes an important contribution to the archaeology of South Asia by bringing together a large body of information from an area that has generally been ignored and misunderstood by nonspecialists.

Michael P. Neeleyn Antiquity

This volume offers the best description and analysis of the nature of [Indus] civilization. Illustrated with an abundance of line drawings, charts, and maps, the volume richly illuminates architecture, material culture, and arts and crafts....Offering thebest available presentation of the Indus civilization, this volume successfully fulfills the needs of both general readers and specialists...Essential...[f]or all those interested in ancient civilizationssss

Choice Reviews - C.C. Lamberg-Karlovsky