The disappearance of the Sarasvati: impact on the cities of the 7 Rivers civilization

The Sarasvati, a sacred river mentioned in ancient Vedic texts, played a central role in the life of the civilization of the 7 rivers (also called the Indus civilization). This river, whose banks were home to many prosperous cities, was a crucial axis of life for the inhabitants of this civilization. However, its gradual disappearance upset the balance of this region and had lasting effects on the cities that depended on it. Michel Danino, in his book *On the Trail of the Lost River*, explores the reasons for the drying up of the Sarasvati and its consequences.

The role of Sarasvati in the civilization of the 7 rivers

The Sarasvati was not just a river; it represented an essential pillar for the inhabitants of the region. The cities of the civilization of the seven rivers were often located along its banks, taking advantage of its waters for agriculture, crafts, and daily life. It provided drinking water, irrigated agricultural lands, and ensured flourishing trade between the different urban centers. The river also symbolized a deep spiritual aspect, embodying life, fertility, and prosperity. It was the only river that was a goddess.

An earthquake and the diversion of tributaries

Michel Danino explains that the drying up of the Sarasvati is linked to a major geological event. According to his research, an earthquake caused the diversion of two essential tributaries of the river: the Yamuna and the Sutlej. These two rivers, which supplied the Sarasvati with water, were redirected towards the Indus for the Sutlej and towards the Ganges for the Yamuna, thus depriving the Sarasvati of its main contribution. In the absence of these tributaries, the Sarasvati gradually began to dry up.

The consequences of the drying up on the cities of Sarasvati

The decline in the Sarasvati River had direct effects on cities that depended on the river. Some once thriving cities found themselves without sufficient water resources to support their populations and activities. This led to mass migrations, with people moving to better-irrigated areas or to other still-active rivers.

Among the cities affected, some have become abandoned sites, silent witnesses of a bygone era. These migrations have also impacted the local economy, reducing the exchange of goods and services that passed through the networks established around the Sarasvati. The civilization of the 7 rivers had to reorganize itself around other rivers, such as the Indus, but these changes have weakened its initial structure and caused a progressive loss of its dynamism.

An archaeological and ecological mystery

Today, the Sarasvati is considered a mythical and mysterious river. Researchers continue to excavate the dry riverbeds in the Thar Desert of India, searching for traces of its ancient course and evidence of its importance. Archaeological excavations show evidence of an advanced civilization along this dry valley, confirming that the Sarasvati did indeed exist and that it played a central role for the people of the region.

Michel Danino, by highlighting these discoveries, shows that the disappearance of the Sarasvati not only had ecological consequences but also contributed to the end of the civilization of the 7 rivers in 1900 BCE.