Complexity Theory and the Harappan Civilization

A novel application of complexity theory reveals that the Harappan Civilization (2600–1900 BCE) exhibited decentralized innovation, adaptive water management, and flexible social structures, underpinned by interconnected environmental, social, and technological networks. This approach challenges linear interpretations of urban development, demonstrating how emergent properties, feedback loops, and self-organization shaped the civilization's longevity and eventual decline. Analysis of archaeological data from sites like Dholavira, Mohenjo-daro, Harappa, and Rakhigarhi highlights hidden connections in symbolic communication and inter-city trade, offering deeper insights into early urban dynamics and the sustainability of complex systems.

SINGH, J. (2025). COMPLEXITY THEORY AND THE HARAPPAN CIVILIZATION. Vestigia Indica: BSSS Journal of History and Archaeology, 3(1), 138–155. https://doi.org/10.51767/jha0309