Here are key TNPSC study notes extracted directly from the 6th Standard Social Science (Term 1 – Unit 3: சிந்துவெளி நாகரிகம் / Indus Valley Civilization):

1. Timeline & Key Parameters

• Geographical Scope: South Asia
• Period: Bronze Age
• Time Span: 3300 – 1900 BCE
• Area:13 lakh sq.km
• Major Cities: 6 big cities; Villages: 200+
  
  
  
  

2. Key Archaeological Findings & Discoveries

• First Discovery: Charles Masson (1826) first described the ruins of Harappa in his book.
  
  
• Railway Line Excavation: In 1856, engineers digging for the Lahore-to-Karachi railway line accidentally uncovered burnt bricks.
  
  
• Archaeological Survey of India (ASI): Established in 1861 with Alexander Cunningham as surveyor; headquarter located in New Delhi.
  
  
• Director General: Sir John Marshall identified shared links between Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro in 1924.
  
  
• Precursor Site: Mehrgarh (Neolithic site in Bolan Basin, Balochistan, Pakistan) showed signs of early agricultural life around 7000 BCE.
  
  

3. Town Planning & Engineering Highlights

• Grid Pattern Streets: Intersected at right angles ($90^\circ$) with rounded corners.
  
  
• Building Material: Burnt bricks (fire-resistant, sturdy, insoluble in water) and sun-dried bricks.
  
  
• Drainage System: Covered drains with gentle slopes to ensure continuous water flow, equipped with inspection holes for maintenance.
  
  
• The Great Bath (Mohenjo-Daro): Rectangular tank lined with bitumen (natural tar) to prevent water leakage.
  
  
• Granary: Advanced granaries with mud-brick walls found at Harappa and Rakhigarhi (Haryana).
  
  
• Dockyard: A tidal dockyard discovered at Lothal (Sabarmati tributary, Gujarat) confirms active maritime trade.
  
  

4. Key Quick Facts for TNPSC MCQs

Topic	Important Fact
Metals Known	Copper was the first metal discovered/used. Iron and Horses were UNKNOWN to Indus people.
Jewelry Material	Used red quartz stones called Carnelian for ornament making.
Sculptures	Dancing Girl (Bronze) and Male Priest/Leader Statue found at Mohenjo-Daro.
UNESCO Site	Archaeological site at Mohenjo-Daro is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

6th Std - NEW BOOK - History - Unit 3 - Indus Valley Civilization

This video provides a detailed line-by-line discussion of the 6th Standard History lesson on the Indus Valley Civilization for TNPSC preparation.