The Indus Civilization

Gregory Possehl's Indus River Civilization is an excellent in-depth study for the serious student of archaeology, covering current and past investigations into many of the sites of the Harappan culture of Pakistan and India.

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The Indus Civilization is a well-written, fascinating text on what archaeologists have reconstructed from the remains of the ancient culture of the Indus and Sarasvati Rivers of Pakistan and India. In addition to abundant line-drawings and maps, several artist's conceptions of the city and various elements are found within its pages. The historical chapters put the site into context, describing the research that has been undertaken beginning with John Marshall's excavations in the 1920s. The background on Mohenjo-Daro is a welcome addition to the literature. This book is a terrific, thoughtful introduction to the Mature Harappan civilization, and Pakistani culture history in general, and would fit well on anyone's book shelf.