Indus valley civilization: Recent archeological studies

There is a considerable interest among academicians and students of Hinduism to trace the origins of Aryans, their connection to Indus valley civilization, and the birth of the early scriptures of Hinduism, the Rgveda. Since the first Harappa excavations in 1842 it was long hypothesized by Vedic scholars Max Muller, and later by archeologist Mortimer Wheeler that Aryans from Europe invaded Indus valley around 2000 BC. Currently this theory is largely discredited since archeological evidence does not support large scale death and destruction expected by an invasion and ensuing war. Recent studies show that Indus collapse drove people east to the watershed of Ganges River according to archeologist Gregory Possehl of the University of Pennsylvania. The number of archeological sites near Harappa increased from 218 to 853 after 1900 B.C.E according archeologist Jonathan Kenoyer of University of Wisconsin. The archeological excavations to the north and east of Indus valley suggest human migration to the Indus region. The collapse of Indus valley civilization suggested to be due to drought related effects; drying of rivers, affecting the agriculture and economy, and not war per se. Detailed skeletal examinations revealed that vast majority of Indus Valley sites contained "proto-Mediterranean" types (Journal of Indo-European Studies (1973) Volume 1. Proto-Mediterranean people are gracile, small toothed, and Caucasoid, while Negroids are robust and large toothed, or mega-dont (Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, Great Britain and Ireland 14:183-186,) which discredits arguments in few quarters that Indus people could be of Ethiopian origin.

There is a cultural connection of Indus seals showing a deity with three faces in yogic style posture to Hindu god Shiva and yoga practices of Indus valley civilization. Since Rigveda and Indus valley approximately coincides in terms of time, although this is debated, but geography described in Rgvedic hymns correspond to Indus valley. Rigveda refers to seven rivers of Northwest India and none of the hymns mentioned any river or mountain that is outside of Indian subcontinent. If Aryans were invaders how do they forget about their past if they were really from another continent? Indus means Sindhu (the river). There are at least one hundred mentions of Sindhu River in Rigveda. Examples include; Rgveda 1.11.6 and Rgveda 10.66.11. Rgvedic Sarasvati, according to Rigveda 10.75.5, lies between Yamuna and Sutlej; Rigveda 3.23.4 states that the Drishadvati and Apaya were its tributaries, and Rigveda 7.95.2 clearly mentions that the Sarasvati flowed all the way from the mountains to the sea. In aid of Abhyavartin Cayamana, Indra destroyed the seed of Varasikha: At Hariyupiyah he smote the vanguard of the Vrcivans, and the rear fled frightened (Rigveda 5.27). Does Hariyupiyah refer to Harappa of the Indus Valley? This name is never again mentioned in the Rigveda like so many other names such as Varasikha and Vrcvans. Rigveda 10.101.8 the devotee’s prayer is: ‘[O gods] make strong forts as of metal, safe from assailants, and Rigveda 4.30.20 refers to ‘a hundred fortresses of stone’. Sometimes these had a hundred arms as in Rigveda 7.15.14. With this note it is tempting to relate this to the Indus temple of Mohenjo Daro. Archeologist Giovanni Veradi of Naples University, Italy believes that this could be Indus temple or a fort. Archeologist R.S. Bisht of Archeological Survey of India who excavated ancient sites at Dholavira relates many Rgvedic hymns to the discovery at Indus valley, suggesting that Indus people were Aryans. Recently Indus valley writing system has been deciphered but not universally accepted. The master key is the discovering of the symbolic and linguistic connection of the Indus signs with the Rigveda. More than 200 inscriptions have been decoded in relation to Rgvedic hymns.

In spite of these positive notes, it is less encouraging to note that even recent excavations did not result in the discovery of early Vedic temples. The unique set of specific symbols, standard weights and bricks, and rectilinear urban planning vanished with the collapse of Indus valley civilization, and the new symbols unrelated to Indus symbols were used at later settlements along Ganges, thus questioning if Indus valley had anything to do with Rigveda or the Aryans. This problem is further exacerbated by the fact that some researchers are not publishing their discoveries and a good academic discussion is lacking because many excavations are done in an Islamic country west of India. Many archeological sites are located here and any association of these findings to Rigveda and Hinduism is highly frowned upon by the Islamic country. One Western archeologist’s observes that relating religion with the findings from the excavation is “needlessly inflammatory to our Pakistani colleagues.” It is very unfortunate that this kind of fear exists among some archeologists that could hamper free and fair academic discussions.

1. Boring No more, a trade-savvy Indus emerges. Andrew Lawler, Science, Volume 320 (June 6 issue), pages 1276-1281 (2008)
2. Indus Collapse: The end or the beginning of an Asian culture. Andrew Lawler, Science, Volume 320 (June 6 issue), pages 1281-1283 (2008)
3. Trying to make way for the old. Andrew Lawler, Science, Volume 320 (June 6 issue), pages 1284-1285 (2008)