The Mysteries of a Mass Graveyard of Early Indians

BBC ^ | 10/6

[nickcarraway]

Scientists have unveiled a sprawling burial site in India belonging to one of the world's earliest urban civilisations. The BBC's Soutik Biswas delves into the clues the graves might give us about how the early Indians lived and died.

In 2019, as scientists embarked on excavating a mound of sandy soil near a remote village in the sparsely populated Kutch region, situated not far from Pakistan in India's western state of Gujarat, they had no inkling of the surprise that lay in store for them.

"When we began digging, we thought it was an ancient settlement. Within a week, we realised it was a cemetery," says Rajesh SV, an archaeologist with the University of Kerala, who led the search.

How ancient DNA may rewrite prehistory in India Three excavation seasons - involving more than 150 Indian and international scientists - have been conducted so far at the 40-acre site. Researchers now estimate the presence of at least 500 graves of the Indus society, one of the world's earliest urban civilisations. (Some 200 of these graves have been excavated.)

[oldasrocks]

I wish they would leave grave sites alone. Poor people want to rest in peace.

[Sacajaweau]

I was going to write the same. Why is this allowed?? It’s just plain wrong.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks nickcarraway. Harappan civilization update.

[SunkenCiv]

The rest of the keywords, sorted, duplicates out:

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• Meluhha: the Indus Civilization and Its Contacts with Mesopotamia [12/15/2022]
• Gold From Ancient Troy, Poliochni And Ur Had The Same Origin [12/02/2022]
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• Scientists analyse traces of ingredients in 5300 to 4000 year old cooking vessels [04/05/2022]
• Why is the The Mesopotamian Civilization considered the oldest civilization? [02/19/2022]
• Archaeologists Unearth Ancient Dagger Linked to Enigmatic Indian Civilization [Tamil Nadu] [08/15/2021]
• Pot Residues Lift the Lid on Ancient Indus Valley Food Choices [12/09/2020]
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• Research links Southeast Asia megadrought to drying in Africa [mid-Holocene] [08/22/2020]
• Was there music during the Indus Valley Civilisation? [03/16/2020]
• Ancient monkey painting suggests Bronze Age Greeks travelled widely [02/04/2020]
• Keezhadi excavations: Sangam era older than previously thought, finds study [India] [09/23/2019]
• Graphene and Water Treatment [08/31/2019]
• History of Writing & Printing: [08/24/2019]
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• In a first, ancient couple found in Harappan grave [02/16/2019]
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• Did this ancient civilization avoid war for 2000 years? [04/10/2018]
• Micro To Macro Mapping -- Observing Past Landscapes Via Remote-sensing [02/18/2018]
• Harappan Workshops Excavated in Northwest India [07/07/2016]
• Indus Valley civilisation may pre-date Egypt's pharoahs: Ancient society is 2,500 years older [tr] [06/02/2016]
• Ancient civilization: Cracking the Indus script [10/21/2015]
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• The ancient city that's crumbling away [03/23/2015]
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• Harappan-era seal found in Rajasthan [02/05/2014]
• Disease and trauma within collapsing Indus Civilisation [12/27/2013]
• Is Haryana home to older, larger Harappan-era site? [06/26/2013]
• Surprising Discoveries From the Indus Civilization [05/04/2013]
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• Bones kill myth of happy Harappa - Study shows gender discrimination [12/04/2011]
• Play was important -- even 4,000 years ago [02/21/2011]
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• Excavations Reveal 7,000 Year-Old Harappan Sites [01/20/2004]
• Aryans In India: Old Debate Triggers New Debate [11/11/2002]
• Decoding DISCOVERY from the much-elusive Indus Valley script! [06/28/2002]
• New Discoveries In Syria Confirm Theory On Spread Of Early Civilization [06/03/2002]
• 'Lost River' Could Rewrite History Books [02/21/2002]
• Drowned Indian city could be world's oldest [01/18/2002]
• Lost Civilisation From 7,500 BC Discovered Off Indian Coast [01/16/2002]
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[Bayard]

Civilization is really old. Makes me wonder if somewhere there was actually a civilization of Atlantis.

[Moltke]

the clues the graves might give us about how the early Indians lived and died.

No need for old graves: just look at how 70% of current Indians live and die.

[ansel12]

5,000-year-old graves being examined shouldn’t bother anyone.

[Fai Mao]

Trump’s fault, Legacy of colonialism, racism.

What cause did I miss?

[Billthedrill]

Global warming and transphobia. They were wearing feathers, weren’t they?

[TalBlack]

Anybody got the over under on when you can go digging people up ?

[null and void]

Why is this allowed??

Unlike here, in most of the world the dead don't vote...

[null and void]

Anybody got the over under on when you can go digging people up ?

Somewhere between when the first sapient human appeared and right now...

[dljordan]

“Makes me wonder if somewhere there was actually a civilization of Atlantis.”

Plato thought there was.

[Max in Utah]

If the grave is unmarked, go ahead and grab a shovel.

[null and void]

Anybody got the over under on when you can go digging people up?

A more serious answer: No sooner that anyone who knew them when they were alive is still with us, with the exception of court ordered exhumation for forensic needs. Even then, the remains are to be reinterred at the end of the investigation, with at least one most likely descendant invited to attend, and the investigator requesting the exhumation, and the judge approving it required to attend.

[Honest Nigerian]

Dot? Feather?
Lone Ranger asked Tonto?

[Farmerbob]

I thought they just tossed them in the Ganges and let Yama sort them out.

[zeestephen]

Re: "leave grave sites alone"

I disagree.

If a dead body can advance medical science, or anthropology, or historical knowledge, there is no desecration.

I rather like the idea of having value and purpose AFTER I am dead.

[Does so]

Ìn the US, graveyards are moved all time to make way for roadways and shopping centers.