Mohenjo-Daro mystery: How a thriving city of 40,000 silently vanished after a severe drought
This site of interest is situated in what is now Pakistan. It was founded long ago, with some estimating it to be around 4600 B.C. The once thriving settlement was mysteriously deserted at some point, with its inhabitants never returning. Shockingly, other nearby cities also suffered the same fate. What prompted these settlers to flee? What secret does this place hold?
A settlement that had all the necessary amenities
Firstly, let's address the cryptic problem of translating the city's name, Mohenjo-Daro. It literally translates to Mound of the Dead, which is not a very encouraging name. However, the residents of this place enjoyed excellent living conditions and rapidly expanded the city. Buildings were uniquely constructed with uniformly fired bricks, indicating that constructors at the time had access to mass-produced materials.
The city also boasted a typical urban infrastructure, including roads, meeting places, cultural centers, and food storage facilities. In the town, there were sophisticated systems for water drainage and even public baths.
The settlement that couldn't withstand a certain challenge
Given the context, it is evident that for its time, this model city was quite advanced, offering perfect living conditions for its inhabitants. Regrettably, the peace didn't last. Around 1700 B.C., the city fell into ruin. Researchers proposed that a sudden catastrophe rather than a gradual decay was the cause. This raises the question: what occurred in this area that led to a thriving city becoming deserted?
The narrative then takes an unusual turn. Upon investigating the city, no evidence of flooding or fire was found. Although many skeletons were found, there was also no sign of any war ensuing. The explanation needed to be sought in other settlements in the Indus Valley.
Scientists collectively proposed a hypothesis applicable to every abandoned location in the area. They suggested that around 1800 B.C., a severe drought occurred, which made cultivation nearly impossible. This theory was supported by research findings in a Himalayan cave, where evidence of a significant drought was discovered. Most scientists concur that this global issue resulted in the collapse of large cities such as Mohenjo-Daro.
