Indus Agricultural Practices and Crop Assemblages (Neolithic–Late Harappan, c. 7000–1300 BCE)

1. Neolithic farming begins at Mehrgarh

   Jan 1, 7000 BCELabels: Mehrgarh, Wheat-barley, Sheep-goat

   • Britannica
   • Mehrgarh

2. Ceramic Neolithic expands crop-processing and storage

   Jan 1, 5500 BCELabels: Mehrgarh, Ceramic Neolithic, Pottery

   • IVC Periodisation
   • Mehrgarh

3. Early Harappan (Ravi) settlements manage grain stores

   Jan 1, 3300 BCELabels: Ravi Phase, Harappa, Grain pits

   • Harappa Timeline
   • Harappa Ravi Pit

4. Kot Diji phase consolidates regional farming systems

   Jan 1, 2800 BCELabels: Kot Diji, Wheat-barley

   • Harappa Timeline
   • IVC Periodisation

5. Ploughed field system evidenced at Kalibangan

   Jan 1, 2600 BCELabels: Kalibangan, Ploughed field

   • Kalibangan
   • Harappa Timeline

6. Mature Harappan urbanism relies on diverse crops

   Jan 1, 2600 BCELabels: Mature Harappan, Mixed cropping

   • Britannica
   • Khirsara Study

7. Large-scale wells, drains, and storage reshape urban water use

   Jan 1, 2500 BCELabels: Indus cities, Water management, Sanitation

   • HESS Review
   • Sanitation IVC

8. Dholavira builds extensive stone reservoirs and channels

   Jan 1, 2500 BCELabels: Dholavira, Stone reservoirs

   • HESS Review
   • Dholavira

9. Double-cropping becomes clearly attested in archaeobotany

   Jan 1, 2200 BCELabels: Double-cropping, Archaeobotany

   • Khirsara Study
   • Harappa Timeline

10. Aridification around the 4.2 ka event pressures farming

    Jan 1, 2200 BCELabels: 4 2, Aridification

    • Khirsara Study
    • 4 2 ka

11. Millet-oriented cropping expands in drier peripheral zones

    Jan 1, 2100 BCELabels: Khirsara, Millets

    • Khirsara Study

12. Late Harappan de-urbanization reshapes agrarian organization

    Jan 1, 1900 BCELabels: Late Harappan, De-urbanization

    • Britannica
    • Harappa Timeline

13. Cemetery H and related Late Harappan phases persist

    Jan 1, 1700 BCELabels: Cemetery H, Punjab

    • Harappa Timeline
    • IVC Periodisation

14. Late Harappan end-point within c. 1700–1300 BCE bracket

    Jan 1, 1300 BCELabels: Late Harappan, Cultural horizon

    • Harappa Timeline
    • IVC Periodisation