ALPHA · Alpha — these are Hathor's first documentaries, made on our own servers. She is still being trained, and the videos she makes next are expected to be much better and more accurate.

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Crafts and Makers: The Indus Cities

A ten‑minute visual journey through the artisans, metalworkers, weavers, potters and scribes who built the thriving Indus urban centers.

Chapters

0:07 Metal Mastery
1:34 Weaving and Textiles
2:16 Pottery and Trade
3:16 Writing and Administration

On-screen text

0:07 Metal Mastery
0:14 Metal Mastery
0:31 Bronze dancer reveals advanced metallurgy Historical record · National Museum, New Delhi – Bronze Dancing Girl (c. 2500–2000 BCE)
0:49 Clay furnace for copper smelting Historical record · Harappa excavation report, Sir John Marshall 1925 – copper smelting furnace
1:07 Bronze tools alloy composition The Institute's interpretation · R. Meadow, *Metallurgy of the Indus Valley*, 1992
1:25 Tin import for bronze The Institute's interpretation · M. Allchin, *The Archaeology of Early India*, 1995
1:34 Weaving and Textiles
1:41 Weaving and Textiles
1:58 Cotton threads in textile fragments The Institute's interpretation · J. M. Kenoyer, *Ancient Cities of the Indus Valley*, 1998
2:16 Pottery and Trade
2:23 Pottery and Trade
2:40 Red‑slipped pottery with motifs Historical record · Mohenjo‑daro pottery, British Museum – Red‑slipped ware, 2600–1900 BCE
2:58 Painted ceremonial pottery The Institute's interpretation · S. Possehl, *Indus Civilization*, 2002
3:07 Grid streets aid craft distribution Historical record · Mohenjo‑daro city plan – UNESCO World Heritage Site
3:16 Writing and Administration
3:23 Writing and Administration
3:40 Steatite seal imprinting Historical record · Steatite seal, Mohenjo‑daro – Museum of Asian Art, Berlin, 2500 BCE

Sources

Historical record: National Museum, New Delhi – Bronze Dancing Girl (c. 2500–2000 BCE) · Harappa excavation report, Sir John Marshall 1925 – copper smelting furnace · Spindle whorl, Harappa – National Museum, Karachi · Carved carnelian bead, Mohenjo‑daro – British Museum, 2500 BCE · Mohenjo‑daro pottery, British Museum – Red‑slipped ware, 2600–1900 BCE · Standardized copper weight, Harappa – National Museum, New Delhi, 2500 BCE · Mohenjo‑daro city plan – UNESCO World Heritage Site · Steatite seal, Mohenjo‑daro – Museum of Asian Art, Berlin, 2500 BCE

The Institute's interpretation: R. Meadow, *Metallurgy of the Indus Valley*, 1992 · M. Allchin, *The Archaeology of Early India*, 1995 · J. M. Kenoyer, *Ancient Cities of the Indus Valley*, 1998 · J. P. Joshi, *Craft Specialization in the Indus Valley*, 2008 · S. Possehl, *Indus Civilization*, 2002 · R. Singh, *The Indus Script and Administration*, 2015

Sound: synthesized ambient (wind, drone, water) (CC0 — made by SoapBox). Made in 77 s of CPU.

Scenes Hathor has no parts for yet (14) — the next things to make

A woman turning a spindle, thin cotton yarn winding onto a simple loom.
A woman turning a spindle, thin cotton yarn winding onto a simple loom.
An artisan steadies a carnelian bead while a bow drill creates a perfect hole.
An artisan steadies a carnelian bead while a bow drill creates a perfect hole.
A district map highlighting separate zones for metalworkers, potters, and bead‑makers.
A merchant uses a set of copper weights on a balance to weigh grain.
A merchant uses a set of copper weights on a balance to weigh grain.
Aerial view of the city’s orthogonal streets with carts transporting pottery and metal wares.
A seated official carving symbols onto a seal while apprentices sort sealed parcels.
A seated official carving symbols onto a seal while apprentices sort sealed parcels.
A merchant uses a set of copper weights on a balance to weigh grain.
A merchant uses a set of copper weights on a balance to weigh grain.
A district map highlighting separate zones for metalworkers, potters, and bead‑makers.
A district map highlighting separate zones for metalworkers, potters, and bead‑makers.