Audio tour 03 - Bronzes of the Indus valley

Here on this panel in front of us are metallic weapons. They are made of bronze and date back to a period known as the “Bronze Age”.

They were found in India, the Gangetic valley, that rich and fertile land, that was the site of many later civilizations.

If you look closely at the large celt in the center, you will see the engraving of a stag. On others, there are geometrically points, but these are barely visible.

Lean closer and observe the little harpoon on the left. It's adorned with a man head This was an extraordinary find, no other such object has been found anywhere else in the world.

These weapons were votive offerings. As you can see, they are much too heavy for hunting or warfare and the metal is bronze, much too soft. But it was very valuable, perhaps more valuable than gold at the time. Also, note that they are broken or twisted, both signs that they were sacrificed ritually. This custom has been observed in other parts of the worl as well.

Now, let us look at the panel on the left. There are more bronzes here, anthropomorphic bronze in familiar shapes. One of them has its arms and legs broken to indicate some sort of sacrifice.The arms and legs of one of them are missing, a sign of a sacrificial ritual.

These bronzes to were found exclusively in the Gangetic valley, and date back to about 2000 B.C. The biggest one on the panel was found a few years ago by a group of farmers who shared the same tractor. What to do ? They did the only fair thing. They cut it into pieces and divided it among themselves. Alas as you can see, a few pieces are now missing.

The collection of prhistoric bronzes mounted on these two panels is unique in the world.

Now, to go to stop number 4, just turn around.