- The Indus Valley civilization was more significant than the ancient Egyptian civilization.
- Some of the world’s first dentists came from the Indus Valley! The oldest example of draining teeth on a patient was discovered in 2001.
- At its peak, 10% of the world’s total population lived in the ancient civilization of the Indus Valley. Estimates reach as high as five million people – or nearly twice the population of Wales in the present day.
- Toilet seats were made of brick – not very comfy!
- A second significant river (the Ghaddar) was also essential to the people of the Indus Valley civilization; however, this dried up in about 2000 BC. Today, this river re-emerges after the monsoon rains.
- The city of Mohenjo-Daro was prone to flooding. Archaeologists have discovered that this ancient city was rebuilt seven times due to flooding. Builders were kept busy in the Indus Valley!
- The people of the Indus Valley created beautiful works of art out of metal, such as the famous Bronze ‘Dancing Girl of Mohenjo-Daro’ statue.
- The Indus Valley civilization had precise measuring devices, including rulers and weight.
- The ruins discovered in Mohenjo-Daro are now a UNESCO World Heritage site, and you can see them today!
- The Indus Valley civilization could read and write and had a language of writing that we had started to de-code and translate. However, although there are 250 and 500 characters, we still cannot read many of them!
- In Mohenjo-Daro, the most prominent structure found was a large communal bath that is now called ‘the Excellent Bath.’ It is unique for ancient civilizations, as most had temples or monuments as their most significant buildings.
- It is believed that the people of the Indus Valley civilization invented buttons – they were made out of seashells!
- Archeologists have also discovered a six-sided object like a dice that had spots on like the ones we use today. Many archaeologists believe that the Indus Valley people invented dice and perhaps played board games too.
- Towns and cities were all built in a uniform, rectangular pattern. However, some historians believe they were rebuilt many times because of flooding.
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