The Harappan civilisation used a variety of raw materials for craft production. While some materials like clay were locally available, others such as stone, timber, and metal had to be procured from outside the alluvial plain.

Specific materials included shell from coastal areas, lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, carnelian from Bharuch in Gujarat, steatite from south Rajasthan and north Gujarat, copper from the Khetri region of Rajasthan, and gold from south India. Rare materials like faience were used for making spindle whorls and miniature perfume bottles.

The Harappans employed multiple strategies to obtain these materials. Terracotta toy models of bullock carts suggest that land routes were used for transport. Riverine routes along the Indus and its tributaries, as well as coastal routes, were also probably utilised.

Another strategy was sending expeditions to resource-rich areas like Khetri (for copper) and south India (for gold). These expeditions established communication with local communities, as indicated by finds of Harappan artefacts such as steatite micro beads in these regions.

The Harappans also established settlements near raw material sources. Nageshwar and Balakot were set up where shell was available. Shortughai in Afghanistan was established near lapis lazuli sources, while Lothal was near sources of carnelian, steatite, and metal.