HISTORY, LEGENDS & MYTHOLOGY

Ruins identical to Mohenjodaro, Harappa
possibly exist in Pakistan

     Lahore: A team of American, Pakistani and Japanese archaeologists has claimed the discovery of rare objects in the Cholistan Desert, raising hopes of the presence of ruins identical to the civilisations of Mohenjodaro and Harappa. Archaeologists from Wisconsin, the Research Institute of Humanities and Nature, Tokyo and the Department of Archaeology, Punjab University, say they have discovered a rare copper seal, a terracotta block, three wedge-shaped bricks, pottery with distinct potter marks and four unicorns from the dried-out channel of the Hakra river. Punjab University Archaeology Department Chairman Dr Farzand Masih is leading the team, reports the Dawn. Talking to the Dawn, Dr. Masih said that the copper seal dates back to 2000-2500 B.C., and added that the study of the seal would hopefully reveal interesting features. "This is the first time that a copper seal has been found in Cholistan, whereas the earlier explorers Aurel Stein and Dr Rafique Mughal could not find any such seal throughout their combing of Cholistan in 1925 and 1974-77," said Dr. Masih. He said a number of archaeological mounds in the area revealed matured phase of the Harappan culture.

     The mound of Ganwariwala, which is 34 kilometres south west of the Derawar Fort, was replete with potsherds showing striking affinities with the pottery known from the various Indus Valley sites, he added. From the same area, Dr Masih said, a terracotta tablet with three pictographs on one side and a yogi on the other side made the entire complex very interesting from iconographical point of view. He said the excavations done at Mohenjodaro and Harappa had revealed a steatite seal showing the yogi and the pictographs. Dr Masih said the mound had burnt bits of bricks showing the industrial activities of the inhabitants of this once flourished city. He said the mound was at equidistant from Mohenjodaro and Kot Diji portraying its commercial importance. Stating that the non-existence of any religious building at the principal cities of Mohenjodaro and Harappa had led archaeologists to believe that their worshiping places were located at some unknown places, Dr Masih said the high mound when become subjective to excavator's spade might reveal the structures of some religious building. Dr Masih said another important find picked up from the surface included the pottery with distinct potter marks showing horizontal lines in pair and some times three and four. He said these pottery pieces indicated the significance of vessels, which were normally used for ritual ceremonies. He said the streets appeared to be cutting each other on right angles, which were the reminiscent of the Harappan architectural features. He said four unicorns were slightly different from unicorns earlier found in Harappa. In order to make a full-fledged excavation during the early winter of this year, Dr Masih said all preliminaries including the grid and the contour plans had been prepared.
-May 8, 2007    

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