Heterarchical Urbanism: Rethinking Power and Polity in the Indus Valley Civilization

A re-evaluation of the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) challenges conventional models by proposing heterarchical urbanism, where power and authority were distributed across multiple social institutions rather than centralized. This framework explains the civilization's complex urban planning, standardized measures, trade networks, and monumental public works without relying on evidence of a dominant elite or royal imagery. By synthesizing archaeological data from key sites like Mohenjo-Daro, Harappa, and Dholavira, the study argues that fluctuating influence among kin groups, craft guilds, mercantile associations, and religious practitioners better accounts for the IVC's stability and urban sophistication.

Revista, Z., & CHEMISTRY, 10. (2025). Heterarchical Urbanism: Rethinking Power and Polity in the Indus Valley Civilization. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.17749673