Daily Times

LARKANA: Archaeological experts have so far done little research over the 710 samples obtained from as many as 55 bores carried out during Dry Core Drilling (DCD) work on the World Heritage site of Mohenjo Daro – despite the passage of one year.

A PC-1 has been approved amounting to Rs.160 million – which is pending approval. The scheme of DCD was approved in April 2014 to carry out the delimitation of the monuments’ site and more scientific research work through the Sindh Culture & Tourism Department when the international body known as UNESCO pressurized them.

Geological experts made as many as 55 bores by digging 60 feet deep at the cultural site through transparent plastic pipes and obtained as many as 710 samples which were kept in two feet long plastic pipes. A few of them were reserved by the geological experts to carryout research work which is claimed to be at the final stage and other samples were sent to Hyderabad for research by archaeological experts. After analysis, it will be known when Mohenjo Daro was destroyed and it’s monument site area may also increase by 100%.

When contacted, former Director and researcher Syed Hakim Ali Shah Bukhari, told Media that the DCD work is being made for the first time in the history and should be completed. He stated that he will talk to Sindh Culture & Tourism Minister, Syed Sardar Shah, to get the research work completed immediately. After the research, it will also be known what were the reasons for the destruction of Mohenjo Daro.

He said that drilling cannot be made on Mohenjo Daro airport after its construction but samples could be obtained through bores to know whether something important is hidden under the buildings. He added that if experts thought drilling is necessary then it should also be carried out. He said that meetings of TCC should always be held at Mohenjo Daro because sometimes members need on the spot verification of cultural monuments which cannot be made while sitting in Karachi.

On the other hand, known archaeologist, Qasim Ali Qasim, said that during drilling, a large number of bones have also been found along with cultural material. Carbon Dating should also be carried out to discern which animals were living at that time – the answers of many questions can be obtained if research is conducted on human bones.