History of Mohenjo-Daro

Mohenjo-daro is an ancient city located in the province of Sindh in Pakistan. It was one of the largest and most advanced cities of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization, which thrived between 2600 BCE and 1900 BCE. The city is believed to have been built around 2600 BCE and was abandoned around 1900 BCE. The ruins of Mohenjo-daro were discovered in the early 20th century and have since been extensively excavated and studied, providing valuable insights into the urban life and culture of the Indus Valley Civilization.

The discovery of Mohenjo-daro can be attributed to a British archaeologist named R. D. Banerji, who in 1911 was working in the area as part of the Archaeological Survey of India. Banerji noticed a large mound of earth that he suspected might be an ancient site. However, it was not until 1922 that a team led by Sir John Marshall began to excavate the site in earnest. Over the next few years, Marshall's team uncovered a large and complex city, complete with a sophisticated drainage system, public baths, and multi-story buildings.

One of the most striking features of Mohenjo-daro is its layout, which is organized around a grid system. The city was divided into two parts, the Citadel and the Lower City, which were separated by a massive wall. The Citadel was situated on a raised platform and contained some of the city's most important structures, including a large public building that is believed to have been a palace or temple. The Lower City was home to most of the city's residents, and it was here that the majority of the excavated buildings have been found.

One of the most intriguing aspects of Mohenjo-daro is its sophisticated drainage system. The city's streets were laid out in a grid pattern, with alleys that were just wide enough for a single cart. Along the sides of the streets were channels that carried away waste and water from the public baths and toilets. The channels emptied into a large central sewer that ran beneath the city, carrying waste out to the river. This system was so advanced that it was not surpassed in the western world until the 19th century.

Mohenjo-daro was also home to a number of public buildings, including a granary and a public bathhouse. The granary was one of the largest buildings in the city and is believed to have been used to store grain for distribution to the city's residents. The public bathhouse was another impressive structure, with a series of rooms that were used for bathing and relaxation.

One of the most mysterious aspects of Mohenjo-daro is the absence of any temples or other religious structures. This has led some scholars to speculate that the Indus Valley Civilization was a secular society, without a dominant religion. However, this theory is not universally accepted, and it is possible that religious structures existed in the city but have yet to be discovered.

The decline of Mohenjo-daro and the Indus Valley Civilization as a whole is still a matter of debate among scholars. Some believe that the city was abandoned due to environmental factors, such as a drought or a change in the course of the river. Others speculate that the civilization may have been conquered by invading armies, or that internal conflicts led to its collapse. Whatever the cause, the ruins of Mohenjo-daro continue to fascinate archaeologists and historians, providing valuable insights into the urban life and culture of one of the world's earliest civilizations.

The Archaeological Ruins at Moenjodaro comprise the first great urban center of the Indus civilization built 5000 years ago with burnt brick structures. The property continues to express its Outstanding Universal Value through its planning, form and design, materials and location. The setting of the property is vulnerable to the impact of development in its vicinity.