Ancient Mohenjo Daro Ruins Could Disappear Due To Pakistan’s Neglect, Exploitation By Islamist Groups

The ruins of the 5,000-year-old city of Mohenjo Daro, part of the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation, could disappear in the next few years due to Pakistan’s continuous neglect, archaeologists have said.

Discovered in the 1920s by an officer of the Archaeological Survey of India, most of the ruins of the ancient civilisation, including those of its centre, Mohenjo Daro, went to Pakistan and are located in what is now Pakistan’s Sindh province.

According to Seeker, archaeologists believe that the ruins would fade to dust and obscurity if the authorities in Pakistan continue do not take sufficient measures to protect them from trespassers and and natural causes of erosion such as heat.

The report states that Islamist groups in Pakistan have rendered lot of damage to the ancient ruins like, for instance, the Islamic State has destroyed the ruins in Syria's Palmyra. It cites a specific case from 2014, when thousands of people gathered at the ruins of Mohenjo Daro to celebrate Pakistan's cultural heritage – complete with scaffolding, dancing, fireworks, heavy spotlights, and lasers. Ironically, the police stood atop the main stupa of the ancient site and monitored the destruction that unfolded.

Archaeologists are now planing to halt further excavation at these sites, saying that the ruins will remain safe if buried under the sand.