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Indus Valley, historical region

South Asian region associated with the Indus civilization, connected with the Near East in the third millennium BCE.

Indus seal and modern impression, about 2600–1900 BCE; Met 49.40.1. A single-horned animal and script signs are visible; this is not an identified flood text
Indus seal and modern impression, about 2600–1900 BCE; Met 49.40.1. A single-horned animal and script signs are visible; this is not an identified flood textThe Metropolitan Museum of Art; Dodge Fund, 1949 · Public domainRelated reference · Object record

Text

The Indus Valley is a historical region of South Asia associated with the Indus, or Harappan, civilization, in areas of present-day Pakistan and northwestern India. The Met dates the seal shown here to about 2600–1900 BCE, the Mature Harappan phase. [1][3]

The museum describes Indus interaction with the Near East and merchants working away from home in the third millennium BCE. This establishes ancient exchange as context; tracing a route for the later Sanskrit ManuManu, Survivor in Indian Flood TraditionsA central human figure in several Sanskrit accounts of the flood and human renewal; his position and role differ across the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa, Mahābhārata and Purāṇas.Glossary · Click to read the explanation story requires evidence tied to that text and period. [2]

References and notes

  1. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 49.40.1: seal identity, date, culture and material. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 49.40.1: seal identity, date, culture and material. Return to the text ↑
  2. Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art, Art of the First Cities in the Third Millennium B.C., 2004: essay, particularly Indus contacts, not the associated full catalogue. Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art, Art of the First Cities in the Third Millennium B.C., 2004: essay, particularly Indus contacts, not the associated full catalogue. Return to the text ↑
  3. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, South Asia, 8000–2000 B.C., October 2000: geographical overview and timeline. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, South Asia, 8000–2000 B.C., October 2000: geographical overview and timeline. Return to the text ↑

Research history

Substantive changes are retained here. Minor copy edits remain in the internal operational log.

  1. Edition 3 · 15 October 2026 · aladmin

    Substantive record update

    Read this revision in its original language (Arabic)

  2. Edition 2 · 15 October 2026 · editor:aladmin

    Substantive record update

    Read this revision in its original language (Arabic)

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Cite this record

IL Archive, «Indus Valley, historical region», Edition 3, https://ilarchive.com/en/sites/indus-valley-historical-region