Mohenjo-daro: Unearthing the Ancient Indus Civilization:

The name Mohenjo-daro even today gives an imagery of of a civilization lost in time and buried under the sands and rubble and it is located in the Larkana District of Sindh Province of Pakistan. This site constructed about 2500 BC is one kind of large structures that showcases the larger than life category of the Indus valley civilization. So let me share some insights about this outstanding city.

Origins and Flourishing:

Mohenjo-daro is dated to the 26th century BCE which evidently shows that at the time when this civilization existed there were other advanced civilizations in Egypt, Mesopotamia, Minoan Crete, and that on the continent of America, Norte Chico. That population is estimated at over 40,000, and the town became a prosperous center for trade and commerce during several centuries.

Urban Planning and Architecture:

The city occupied 250 hectares (620 acres) where all areas were well-planned with considerable width of roads, rational subdivision of plots, and special drainage networks. Its architectural feature such as the ‘Great Bath,’, which is still a mystery to this date, is a large pool constructed with water and surrounded by brick walls, it is believed that it was used for ritual, or purificatory bath.

Artifacts and Culture:

Archaeologists found many interesting items in Mohenjo-daro like bronze dancing girl and the equally cryptic Pashupati seal which, it is thought, may indicate worship of a deity related to Shiva. Rather curiously, we cannot say with certainty what the name of the city was originally, although it seems that it was Tuareg.

Decline and Rediscovery:

The civilization of Mohenjo-daro did not last long and by 1700 BCE this city was abandoned as were the other cities of the Indus Valley Civilization. It remained hidden for several years until it was rediscovered in the 1920’s and several archeological surveys were done to unearth the splendor of this great place. UNESCO appreciated this and rendered its support by confirming the area as a World Heritage site in 1980.

Challenges and Preservation:

Today it is exposed to erosion and improper restoration of the site is another problem that the site has to suffer from. Researchers continue to work in the committee to preserve this great piece but also practically decode it.

In one lesson, it is clear that Mohenjo-daro is a shining example of humanity at its best — an ancient city filled with vibrancy, life, hope, and history that has risen and fallen just as all great civilizations of the past.