Whether due to hypocrisy or sheer ignorance, the archaeological heritage of the Saraswati River system is rapidly vanishing.
[A]fter working in the region since 2014, I have noted a rapid disappearance of sites. Tarkhanwala Dera, which Ghosh excavated in 1951 before the ASI undertook an extensive excavation in 2009, has disappeared completely. Illegal encroachments, such as brick kilns, lead to the destruction of an important Harappan settlement. What is unfortunate is that the site was protected under the ASI’s jurisdiction.
Similarly, a major Harappan site in the area – Baror – which was excavated by the ASI in the early 2000s, has also become a victim of rapid encroachment and construction on the mound.
If this is the state of protected sites, one can imagine the situation of unprotected ones that are not under the state’s jurisdiction. The sad reality is that over 60 per cent of the sites reported in the early surveys are now lost. The sites are largely neglected by local authorities and the state/centre hardly have resources to protect them. Lack of awareness among local residents has also led to the destruction of these sites. Sites like Rer, which Ghosh investigated, is also being slowly encroached upon.
With each survey every year, I see the death of at least one site and find solace in those that have been salvaged. Sanjay Manjul of the ASI salvaged four sites while overseeing an extensive excavation. This operation has resulted in collecting data from our past heritage, which is lost. We should aim for similar excavations before the sites are lost. Since we can’t protect them, at least we should salvage the remains.
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