How do we that the Indus Valley civilisation existed in the first place? - Worksheet - Year 4

The existence of the Indus Valley civilisation, one of the world's earliest urban civilisations, is known through various forms of evidence unearthed by archaeologists. To understand how we discovered this ancient society, students are presented with a worksheet that prompts them to consider different types of evidence that could contribute to our knowledge of the Indus Valley. The worksheet lists several options, such as television evidence, speaking to someone who was there, and books written by the Indus Valley people, among others. However, given the civilisation's antiquity, reliable methods include digging up artefacts and utilising evidence from archaeologists.

When evaluating the evidence, it is crucial for students to be aware of potential pitfalls such as bias, over-reliance on limited information, myths, censorship, and propaganda. The politics of the time the evidence was created, as well as contemporary politics, can also influence our understanding of the past. The worksheet encourages critical thinking about the sources of information and the importance of archaeological work in piecing together the history of the Indus Valley civilisation. Through careful examination of artefacts and scholarly research, we gain insights into the people who lived in the Indus Valley, their culture, and the events that shaped their lives.