The first direct absolute dates for the exploitation of several summer crops
by Indus populations are presented here. These include rice, millets and
three tropical pulse species at two settlements in the hinterland of the
urban site of Rakhigarhi. The dates confirm the role of native summer
domesticates in the rise of Indus cities. They demonstrate that, from their
earliest phases, a range of crops and variable strategies, including
multi-cropping, were used to feed different urban centres. This has
important implications for understanding the development of the earliest
cities in South Asia, particularly the organisation of labour and
provisioning throughout the year.