Copper was the first metal used by humans for making tools, marking the transition from the Stone Age. The Harappans used copper for a wide range of implements, weapons, and vessels before discovering how to alloy it into bronze.

The Harappans are credited with being among the earliest people in the world to cultivate cotton and process it into fabric. Archaeological finds, such as fabric traces on silver jars, confirm their advanced knowledge of cotton textiles.

The Great Granary is the largest building found at Mohenjo-Daro. It was a massive brick structure with ventilation channels, designed for the storage of grain, which likely served as a form of state currency or tax reserve.

While the Harappans cultivated a variety of crops including barley, mustard, sesamum, and cotton, there is no archaeological evidence to suggest they cultivated sugarcane. The knowledge of sugarcane likely came later.

The Harappans established a trading outpost at Shortugai in modern-day Afghanistan specifically to access local mines. This region was the primary source of Lapis Lazuli, a highly valued blue gemstone used in beads and jewelry.

Excavations at Kalibangan in Rajasthan revealed the world's earliest known ploughed field. The grid pattern of the furrows suggests that two different crops were grown simultaneously, a practice that continues in the region today.

Seals from the Indus Valley have been found in Sumerian cities, and Sumerian texts refer to trade with 'Meluhha' (the Indus region). The stylistic similarities and physical presence of these seals confirm extensive trade links between the Indus and Mesopotamian civilizations.

The Harappan system of weights was highly standardized and largely binary. The weights proceeded in a series (1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, etc.), with 16 being a dominant unit that influenced traditional Indian measurements (like 16 annas in a rupee) for millennia.

The most remarkable feature of the Harappan civilization was its advanced underground drainage system. Streets were equipped with covered drains and manholes for cleaning, showcasing a level of sanitation and municipal planning that was unique in the ancient world.

The Harappans used gold, silver, copper, and bronze extensively. However, iron technology was unknown to them. The use of iron in the Indian subcontinent began much later, during the Vedic period, marking the transition to the Iron Age.