Art of the First Cities: The Third Millennium B.C. from the Mediterranean to the Indus | Explore & Learn

Clothing and Personal Adornment: Indus Valley

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The best source of information about clothing and personal adornment comes from terracotta, and occasionally bronze and stone, figures found at Harappan sites. The wide variety of headdresses and ornament styles on female figures may reflect the ethnic diversity of the cities as well as the continuously changing styles. Many of the ornaments depicted on the figures, both male and female, can be correlated to actual ornaments, belts, fillets, necklaces, and bangles. The massive hairstyles represented on female figures may have required the hands of a skilled hairdresser. These figures are heavily adorned with multiple chokers, necklaces, and belts. The stylized flowers arranged over the forehead may represent actual flowers or flower-shaped ornaments. The necklaces probably represent beaded ornaments of gold, bronze, carnelian, and agate. The wide belt was probably worn over a short skirt of finely woven cotton or woolen cloth. Figures of men are not as varied as those of women. Some wear turbans or headbands. Stone sculptures show elaborate braids and hair tied into a double bun or twisted bun at the back of the head. Most male figures have beards. Both men and women wear chokers and bangles. The stone figures show a long cloak or shawl draped over the edge of the left shoulder, covering the folded legs and lower body, but leaving the right shoulder and the chest bare. A lower garment is worn around the waist and drawn through the legs to be tucked in the back.


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Images, from top to bottom: Female figures with headdresses and jewelry, ca. 2600–1900 B.C.; Harappan. Indus Valley, Mohenjo-daro, DK 2384. National Museum, Karachi NMP 50.509. Courtesy of the Department of Archaeology and Museums, Ministry of Minorities, Culture, Sports, Tourism, and Youth Affairs, Government of Pakistan. Belt, ca. 2600–1900 B.C.; Harappan. Indus Valley, Mohenjo-daro, Hoard DK IE. Mohenjo-daro Museum, Mohenjo-daro MM 1121. Courtesy of the Department of Archaeology and Museums, Ministry of Minorities, Culture, Sports, Tourism, and Youth Affairs, Government of Pakistan. String of beads, ca. 2600–1900 B.C.; Harappan. Indus Valley, Mohenjo-daro, DK 1541. Mohenjo-daro Museum, Mohenjo-daro MM 1367. Courtesy of the Department of Archaeology and Museums, Ministry of Minorities, Culture, Sports, Tourism, and Youth Affairs, Government of Pakistan.

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