Fresh radiocarbon dating reveals Mohenjo-daro was occupied between 3300 and 2600 BCE, challenging the belief that urban development suddenly began around 2600 BCE. Excavations of a massive mud-brick structure first uncovered in 1950 by Sir Mortimer Wheeler show a multi-phase city wall dating to 2700-2600 BCE. Deep coring uncovered early Harappan style pottery, confirming the settlement evolved from an already established community rather than being built from scratch.
Mohenjo-daro occupied 700 years earlier than previously thought
PakistanExcavationBreakthrough
Site mentioned
Key facts
- Site spreads across more than 620 acres and supported up to 40,000 people at its height
- Fresh radiocarbon dating confirms occupation between 3300 and 2600 BCE
- Previously, urban development was thought to have suddenly begun around 2600 BCE
- Excavations focused on a massive mud-brick structure first uncovered in 1950 by Sir Mortimer Wheeler
- Structure identified as multi-phase mudbrick city wall constructed and expanded over centuries
- Earliest phase of wall dates around 2700 to 2600 BCE
- Deep coring uncovered early Harappan style pottery confirming substantial settlement predating the wall
- Evidence shows Mohenjo-daro evolved from an already established community rather than being built from scratch
Sources
Buried Treasure, Mohenjo-daro - BBCbbc.co.uk
First transmitted in 1957, Sir Mortimer Wheeler describes the results of his excavations of the 4,000 year-old, red brick Indus Valley civilization city of ...
[PDF] Wheeler Sir Mortimeria903202.us.archive.org
that the lowest and earliest strata of Mohenjo-daro and Chanhu-daro are not yet known. And there is one further factor that may have some bearing upon the ...
Buried Treasure Mohenjo-daro (1957) - Harappaharappa.com
Sir Mortimer Wheeler's tour, though outdated in many aspects, has some great footage, close shots of Indus objects, presented by this charismatic archaeologist.
Wheeler's Mohenjo-daro 1950 - Harappaharappa.com
A hitherto unknown box of 63 images in Sir Mortimer Wheeler's personal collection from excavations he led at Mohenjo-daro in 1950.
Mortimer Wheeler - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
Wheeler was fascinated by the Indus Valley civilisation, and excavated at Mohenjo-daro. Wheeler established a new archaeological journal, Ancient India ...
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