More archaeologists from USA, India, Spain and other countries threw light on the research, excavation, exploration and preservation of Mohenjo Daro, on third and concluding day of three-day International Conference on Mohenjo Daro and Indus Valley Civilization, held under the auspice of the Sindh Department of Culture, Tourism, Antiquities and Archaeology, at the ancient site.
Dr Richard H Meadow, who is a senior lecturer on anthropology, at Harvard University, in his research paper on the subject of ‘Perimeter Walls at Harappan sites’, said that study of the Indus Civilization had been ongoing since the end of the 19th century, although the civilization itself was only recognized as a cultural phenomenon by Sir John Marshall when he noted the similarities between the archeological remains excavated at Harappa in Punjab and Mohenjo Daro in Sindh, adding that these two archaeological sites had since dominated discussion of early complex societies in northwestern South Asia.
Dr Richard, who is an author and co-author of more than one hundred publications, detailed aspects of his research in both archaeology and zoo archaeology and further said that future archaeological research at Mohenjo Daro might do well to investigate the location of perimeter walls since rebuilding them might serve as a means of protecting the site while maintaining the integrity of the representation of the site to the public.
Indian archaeologist Dr Vasant Shivram Shinde in his paper said that the Ghaggar Basin in the northwest part of India was very often referred to as ancient Saraswati Basin, adding that explorations and surveys carried out in this region have brought to light a large number of Harappan sites, of which very few have survived till date. Excavations carried out at selected sites have pushed back the beginning of the Harappan culture to around 5000 BC. He informed the audience that data had been extracted for the first time for ancient DNA studies and facial reconstruction which was underway. The presentation will showcase the new discoveries in the Ghaggar Basin as well as changing perspectives of the understanding of Harappan culture, he hoped.
Spanish archaeologist Ms Ann Andersson in his research paper asserted that the archaeological remains at Failaka Island (Kuwait) were interpreted as a trading station functioning as a hub in the trading network transporting goods between Mesopotamia and potentially as far as the Indus region.
Earlier, a musical evening was held at Larkana city where, the audience was enthralled by folk singers representing “Rhythms of Indus” folk artist, Bano Rehmat, queen of Kashmir Mahi Kashmiri, Bakhtawar, Aijaz Mushtaq, Adhu Bhagat, Taj Buledi, Taj Mastani, Rajib Ali, Arbab Khoso and Mai Dhai presented their songs.
MNA Faryal Talpur in her brief address said that the mighty Indus River flows from Hamalya right to Arabian Aea, passing through Gilgit and Baltistan, Kashmir, Sawat, KPK, Punjab, Balochistan and Sindh before conversing with the sea, adding that on both embankment, civilizations flourished since millennium.
Sindh Senior Minister Nisar Ahmed Khuhro also attended the concluding session. In his brief speech, he praised the Culture Department for documenting each and every event of this conference. He was optimistic that conferences and symposiums on Mohenjo Daro would be held at a regular interval.