The Bottom Line
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.
Pros
- Large format
- Lots of line illustrations
Cons
- Geared primarily to professionals
Description
- Possehl, Gregory L. 2002. The Indus Civilization: A Contemporary Perspective. Altamira Press.
- Good background chapters include cultural/historical information, art and architecture
- A full chapter each on the writing style, religion, burial customs, and gender studies
- A terrific, complete chapter on the site of Mohenjo-Daro alone
- Chapters on the trade network of the Indus Civilization, and what transpired after it was over
- Final overview chapter, and extensive bibliography and index
Guide Review - The Indus Civilization
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.
