Rethinking the Indus: A comparative re-evaluation of the Indus Civilisation as an alternative paradigm in the organisation and structure of early complex societies: A comparative re-evaluation of the Indus Civilisation as an alternative paradigm in the or

In many ways, we are presented today with a situation much like that described for Indus Civilisation studies in the 1960s: a particular model has been favoured for some time, but it is yet to be rigorously investigated, especially in the light of recentadvances in data, methodologies and theory. This study aims to do that, employing a comparative approach with the aim of testing many of the explicit and implicit comparisons with Mesopotamia that are at the heart of this interpretation. Three types of data are considered: domestic architecture, metalwork and settlement patterns. Each is dealt with by a single chapter, which begins by identifying the relevance of that dataset to the 'alternative paradigm' interpretation, and the individual statements made of that dataset which form a part of the wider interpretation. The three chapters proceed to test those statements using comparative data from Mesopotamia, Egypt, Iran and the Gulf, depending on the availability of suitable comparative material. The theoretical background to the approach and the methodologies adopted is discussed in the following chapter. A feature of this study is that, having described an interpretation of the Indus Civilisation currently enjoying common currency, it sets out to challenge and investigate this academic position. In doing so, especially due to the methodological decision to test specific statements, it indiscriminately scrutinizes a large number of statements and interpretations made by a number of scholars. Introduction. The IC: an early complex society with unique structural organisation? Origins of current interpretation of the IC The aims and approahc of this study The comparative method. Introduction Social evolution and the comparative method: Comparative approaches and the IC ; Methodology adopted by this study ; Choice of comparative datasets ; Summary Domestic architecture: Introduction ; Review of sites ; Building size ; Building and family structure ; Access analyses ; Discussion Metalwork and metalworking: Introduction ; Recent literature ; Ore sources ; Functional group definition ; Discussion of artefact categories ; Elemental composition ; Discussion Settlement patterns. Introduction ; Data collection and formatting issues ; Organisation and subdivision of the Indus settlements ; Third millennium climatic influence on settlement patterns in the Greater Indus Valley ; Settlement hierarchies: site size distribution ; Settlement hierarchies: rank-size ; Discussion Conclusion: Summary ; The success of a comparative approach ; The 'alternative paradigm' model of Indus society in the light of structured comparative analyses ; Moving forwards- interpreting the Indus Appendix A. Architectural data used in chapter 3 Appendix B. Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests on house size distribution Appendix C. Permeability maps for the houses used in access analysis, including house RRA and courtyard RRA values Appendix D. Assessing the reliability of published Indus metalwork data Appendix E. Catalogue of metalworks in the Lothal Site Museum and Archive Appendix F. Elemental composition data used in chapter 4 Appendix G. Problems recreating Adams' influential 'four-tiered' settlement hierarchy Appendix H. Problems with using sites on the Indus floodplain in settlement analyses Appendix I. Metalwork data Bibliography. Front Cover Title Page Copyright Foreword Table of Contents List of figures List of tables Terms and usage 1: Introduction 2: The Comparative Method 3: Domestic Architecture 4: Metalwork and Metalworking 5: Settlement Patterns 6: Conclusion Appendix A: Architectural Data Used in Chapter 3 Appendix B: Kolmogorov-Smirnov Tests on House Size Distributions Appendix C: Permeability Maps for the Houses Used in Access Analyses, Including House RRA and Courtyard RRA Values Appendix D: Assessing the Reliability of Published Indus Metalwork Data Appendix E: Catalogue of Metalwork in the Lothal Site Museum and Archive Appendix F: Elemental Composition Data Used in Chapter 4 Appendix G: Problems Recreating Adams’ Influential ‘Four-Tiered’ Settlement Hierarchy Appendix H: Problems with Using Sites on the Indus Floodplain in Settlement Analyses Appendix I: Metalwork Data Bibliography