Rivers of Harappa

Published September 24, 2024

SEVERAL thousand years ago, the Indian subcontinent experienced significant upheavals. The northwest region trans-itioned into an arid zone, and the courses of rivers were greatly affected by erosion and tectonic events.

One of the river courses disappeared, only for the British to discover it in the early 19th century through topographic exploration.

Recently, geological and climatological experts have probed its evolution and disappearance, with satellite imagery tracing the river’s buried courses, and isotope analysis detecting ancient water still stored under the Thar desert. The Indus civilisation, which was the subcontinent’s first known urban settlement, did not benefit from the Indus River alone. Since Aurel Stein’s expedition in 1940, hundreds of Harappan sites have been identified in the now-dry Saraswati basin. The rich technological, artistic and cultural legacy of the Harappan civilisation laid the foundation for developing newer civilisations in the subcontinent.

Dr Khataumal
Mithi

Published in Dawn, September 24th, 2024

Opinion

Editorial

A positive note
Updated 10 Feb, 2025

A positive note

With govt unable to press growth accelerator without upending fragile recovery, sufferings of low-middle-income households are unlikely to disappear soon.
Justice for all
10 Feb, 2025

Justice for all

ALONG with his domestic agenda, Donald Trump is busy ripping to shreds the post-World War II ‘rules-based...
Held back
10 Feb, 2025

Held back

IT is a crying shame how women are conspicuously absent from Pakistan’s civil services. Despite comprising half ...
Race against time
Updated 09 Feb, 2025

Race against time

While some bright spots emerged at Breathe Pakistan moot, we must streamline our climate governance.
Open door
09 Feb, 2025

Open door

THE door is still open for talks, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has reminded the PTI. What matters, however,...
Football suspension
09 Feb, 2025

Football suspension

ONCE again, Pakistan has been ousted from the global football family. FIFA recently suspended the Pakistan Football...