The Indus Valley civilization or the Harrapan civilization (3300–1300 BC; mature period 2700–1700 BC) was a Bronze Age civilization around the Indus river in Pakistan. It is among the four oldest civilisations in the world and also the earliest known urban culture of South Asia. It also covered some areas of western India and had a trading colony in Afghanistan. It was discovered by archaeologists in the 1880s. It developed along the Indus and the Ghaggar-Hakra rivers.It is one of the world’s three earliest civilizations, along with Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt.