Mysteries of Mohenjo-Daro
Actually, Mohenjo-Daro is one big mystery. Much of what we know (or think we know) about them is speculative, based solely on the artifacts and ruins of Mohenjo-Daro, Harappa, and dozens of other sites found in the Indus River Valley.
One mystery will possibly never be explained - the fate of the people of Mohenjo-Daro. The ruins of the city were discovered under layers of silt during the construction of a railroad. The city also had several layers to it indicating that it had been destroyed and rebuilt multiple times, probably because of severe flooding from the Indus River. As a result, one theory of the decline of Mohenjo-Daro is that the people simply decided to leave because of frequent floods.
Another theory is that the Indus River moved. We know that it moved; it’s currently several miles from the site of Mohenjo-Daro. Some speculate that a severe tectonic event (earthquake) caused the river to drastically change course. It would not be out of the realm of possibility that the people of Mohenjo-Daro would take such an event, if it indeed occurred, to be a sign from the gods to leave.
Yet another possibility is that the people of Mohenjo-Daro were conquered and / or driven out of the area by another group of people, possibly the Aryans.
Mohenjo-Daro’s Legacy
Whatever happened to the people of Mohenjo-Daro, they left us with clues to our human past. They were prosperous, intelligent, and had a culture unique yet similar to many others before or since. As archaeological and anthropological work continues in the Indus River Valley and around the world, the potential is alive to discover much more about the people and how they lived. Until the mysteries are solved, we can just continue to analyze the clues they left us and wonder.
Actually, Mohenjo-Daro is one big mystery. Much of what we know (or think we know) about them is speculative, based solely on the artifacts and ruins of Mohenjo-Daro, Harappa, and dozens of other sites found in the Indus River Valley.
One mystery will possibly never be explained - the fate of the people of Mohenjo-Daro. The ruins of the city were discovered under layers of silt during the construction of a railroad. The city also had several layers to it indicating that it had been destroyed and rebuilt multiple times, probably because of severe flooding from the Indus River. As a result, one theory of the decline of Mohenjo-Daro is that the people simply decided to leave because of frequent floods.
Another theory is that the Indus River moved. We know that it moved; it’s currently several miles from the site of Mohenjo-Daro. Some speculate that a severe tectonic event (earthquake) caused the river to drastically change course. It would not be out of the realm of possibility that the people of Mohenjo-Daro would take such an event, if it indeed occurred, to be a sign from the gods to leave.
Yet another possibility is that the people of Mohenjo-Daro were conquered and / or driven out of the area by another group of people, possibly the Aryans.
Mohenjo-Daro’s Legacy
Whatever happened to the people of Mohenjo-Daro, they left us with clues to our human past. They were prosperous, intelligent, and had a culture unique yet similar to many others before or since. As archaeological and anthropological work continues in the Indus River Valley and around the world, the potential is alive to discover much more about the people and how they lived. Until the mysteries are solved, we can just continue to analyze the clues they left us and wonder.
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