DADU: Work on the first anthropological museum at Kotdiji fort showcasing history and way of living of primitive humans in this part of the world from Stone Age to British era was in full swing.

The work on the museum started under the supervision of 24 renowned archaeologists and historians from of the departments of art, design and history of Shah Abdul Latif University (SALU), Khairpur, and Shaheed Allah Bux University of Art, Design and Heritage, Jamshoro, in collaboration with culture department.

The director general of archaeology and antiquities, Manzoor Ahmed Kanasro, led a team of officers of culture department, renowned archeologists, historians and artists led by and Prof Qasid Mallah of SALU and Prof Bhai Khan Shar, and vice chancellor of Shaheed Allah Bux University of Art and Design and Heritage inspected ongoing work on the museum on Saturday.

Mr Kanasro told Dawn that work on the construction of the museum’s building had been completed and now eight galleries were being established.

He said that a memorandum of understanding was signed with the archaeologists and the historians of the two universities in connection with the museum, which would put on display human history from Stone Age to British era.

He said the museum would focus on how human beings had lived in caves, forests and houses in this part of the world. It would also depict Indus Civilisation, with Moenjodaro and Amri remains as its main pivots, he said. About 10 per cent work on the galleries had been completed, he added.

About the Moenjodaro museum, he said that the museum would receive Rs95 million from Annual Development Programme funds of Sindh government.

Renowned archaeologist and historian Prof Qasid Mallah said that work on galleries had been started where humans’ history would be preserved. Paintings, sculptures and models would be designed to depict how man had passed their lives from Stone Age to British era, he said.

Prof Bhai Khan Shar, VC of Shaheed Allah Bux University of Art, Design and Heritage, said that the work on the first anthropological museum at Kotdeji fort was highly significant for preserving humans’ history. It would greatly help research scholars to carry out studies on all periods of civilisation from Stone Age to British era, he said.

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2022