Mohenjo-daro
Major city of the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation.
Mohenjo-daro is an archaeological site in the Larkana District of Sindh, Pakistan.
- Location
- Larkana District, Sindh, Pakistan
- Estimated Population
- at least 40,000
- Area
- estimated 300 hectares
- Rediscovery
- 1920s
Lore & Background
Its original name is unknown; based on a seal, Iravatham Mahadevan speculated it could have been Kukkuṭārma, meaning 'city of the cockerel.' The modern name Mohenjo-daro means 'Mound of the Dead' in Sindhi. D. Banerji, who identified a Buddhist stupa and a flint scraper that indicated antiquity. Large-scale excavations followed under Kashinath Dikshit, John Marshall, Ernest Mackay, Mortimer Wheeler, and others.
Reader's Guide
Mohenjo-daro represents one of the earliest examples of urban planning and civil engineering. It was divided into a Citadel and Lower City, with public baths, assembly halls, and a large building sometimes called the Great Granary, though its function is uncertain. The city was fortified with mud-brick walls and guard towers. The site is currently threatened by erosion and improper restoration. Mohenjo-daro's significance lies in its advanced urban infrastructure and its role as a major center of the Indus Valley Civilisation, which spanned much of modern Pakistan and North India.
Did You Know?
- The city's original name is unknown, but a seal analysis suggests it may have been called Kukkuṭārma, meaning 'city of the cockerel.'
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Mohenjo-daro's powers/role?
It functioned as a major planned city spanning roughly 300 hectares and supporting a population of at least 40,000 people. At its height it was contemporaneous with the great civilisations of Egypt, Mesopotamia, Minoan Crete, and Norte Chico.
Where can you find Mohenjo-daro?
The ruins sit in the Larkana District of Sindh province, in modern-day Pakistan. The site was first brought back to scholarly attention during excavations in the 1920s.
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