The Lost Cities of the Sarasvati Valley: An Archaeological Mystery.

The vanished cities of the Sarasvati Valley stay a fascinating mystery of archaeology. The valley of this once vast and powerful river was home to one of the oldest human civilizations, the Indus civilization, or « civilization of the seven rivers ». Cities like Kalibangan, Rakhigarhi and Banawali flourished along its banks.

The decline of these cities is closely linked to the drying up of the Sarasvati River. According to Michel Danino’s research, this drying up was due to a major earthquake that diverted two of its main tributaries: the Yamuna and the Sutlej. The diversion of these rivers deprived the Sarasvati of its vital flow, leading to a slow disappearance of the river and, as a result, of the cities that depended on it for water and agriculture.

This geological upheaval forced the populations to abandon their cities, causing the decline of this once flourishing region. Archaeological excavations have uncovered clues showing the extent of this civilization, but many questions persist, but answers are emerging: . Why did these cities fail to adapt? Probably because a dried-up river no longer allows for living. And what happened to the inhabitants? It seems that they left for the Ganges plain.

The Sarasvati Valley is now a desert, but it preserves the traces of these vanished cities, witnesses of a time when this river was a crucial axis of life. Archaeological discoveries in the region offer more and more clues about daily life, urban organization and the ingenuity of this civilization. Fortunately, researchers have elucidated the mystery of their disappearance, which is no longer one of the great enigmas of history.