Mohenjo-daro

Quick Facts: Who was Mohenjo-daro?

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Mohenjo-daro

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Major ancient city of the Indus Valley Civilization, known for advanced urban planning.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Mohenjo-daro (; Sindhi: موهن جو دڙو, lit. 'Mound of the Dead Men'; Urdu: موئن جو دڑو [muˑənⁱ dʑoˑ d̪əɽoˑ]) is an archaeological site in the Larkana District of Sindh, Pakistan. Built c. 2500 BCE, it was one of the largest settlements of the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation, and one of the world's earliest major cities, contemporaneous with the civilisations of ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Minoa, and Norte Chico. With an estimated population of at least 40,000 people, Mohenjo-daro prospered for several centuries, but by c. 1700 BCE had been abandoned, along with other large cities of the Indus Valley Civilisation. The site was rediscovered in the 1920s.

Career & Major Achievements

Significant excavation has since been conducted at the site of the city, which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980, the first site in South Asia to be so designated. The site is currently threatened by erosion and improper restoration. The city's original name is unknown. Based on his analysis of a Mohenjo-daro seal, Iravatham Mahadevan speculates that the city's ancient name could have been Kukkuṭārma ("the city [-rma] of the cockerel [kukkuta]"). Cock-fighting may have had ritual and religious significance for the city.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Mohenjo-daro may also have been a point of diffusion for the clade of the domesticated chicken found in Africa, Western Asia, Europe and the Americas. Mohenjo-daro, the modern name for the site, has been interpreted as "Mound of the Dead" in Sindhi. Mohenjo-daro is located off the right (west) bank of the lower Indus river in Larkana District, Sindh, Pakistan. It lies on a Pleistocene ridge in the flood plain of the Indus, around 28 kilometres (17 mi) from the town of Larkana. Mohenjo-daro was built around 2500 BC.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1700: 1700 Milestone — 1700 BCE had been abandoned, along with other large cities of the Indus Valley Civilisation.
2. 1980: 1980 Milestone — Significant excavation has since been conducted at the site of the city, which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980, the first site in South Asia to be so designated.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Mohenjo-daro

True or False: “The primary reason Mohenjo-daro was abandoned around 1700 BCE was a sudden, catastrophic volcanic eruption.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While decline occurred, the evidence suggests a gradual process rather than a single, immediate cataclysmic event like a massive volcano.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Mohenjo-daro