Great Bath Waterproofing Material
The Great Bath, an important structure from ancient civilizations (often associated with the Indus Valley Civilization, specifically Mohenjo-daro), required effective waterproofing for its walls and floors.
Material Used for Waterproofing
Historical and archaeological evidence suggests that Gypsum was used as a primary material for waterproofing the Great Bath.
- Gypsum, when heated, forms Plaster of Paris, which can harden effectively.
- It was often mixed with other materials like lime or bitumen to enhance its sealing properties.
- This layer created a barrier preventing water from seeping through the porous brickwork of the bath.
Why Gypsum Was Chosen
Gypsum offered practical advantages for waterproofing ancient structures:
- It was a readily available natural resource in many ancient regions.
- When processed correctly, it formed a relatively impermeable layer.
- Its ability to set hard made it suitable for sealing surfaces like walls and floors.
While other materials like lead or copper were used in antiquity for various purposes, and lime was a common building binder, the specific application for waterproofing the Great Bath is strongly linked to the use of processed gypsum.
Important Questions from Harappa Civilization
Given below are two statements: One is labelled as Assertion A and the other is labelled as Reason R.
Assertion (A): The People of Harappan civilization are said to have commercial links with the people of the Tigris and Euphrates basins.
Reason (R): There is no archaeological evidence to substantiate the hypothesis of trade links with Mesopotamia.
In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:
Given below are two statements - one labelled as Assertion (A) and the other labelled as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): There is little doubt now that certain facets of Indus Civilization survived into the second and the first millennium cultures.
Reason (R) : The earlier hiatus between the Indus Civilization and the Vedic culture is no longer acceptable
In the context of the above two statements, which of the following is correct?
Which of the following were the most standardised products of the Indus people?
Harappan believed in
At which of the following Harappan sites has a dockyard been found suggesting the existence of trade?
