ASI transfers Rakhigarhi skeletons to AnSI for a scientific investigation, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has transferred human skeletal remains from Rakhigarhi to the Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI) for scientific investigation.
• This transfer is based on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two institutions to advance multidisciplinary research.
• Rakhigarhi, located in Haryana, is recognized as the largest settlement of the Harappan Civilisation, spanning approximately 550 hectares.
• Three complete human skeletons and fragments from Mound 7, a burial plot, have been moved to AnSI's laboratory in Kolkata.
• A 4,600-year-old female skeleton from Rakhigarhi previously showed no steppe pastoral gene, fueling debates on Aryan migration.

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Detailed Insights:

• The investigation aims to apply modern scientific techniques like ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis, stable isotope studies, and palaeopathological investigations.
• This research is expected to provide crucial insights into the Indus-Saraswati Civilisation and its inhabitants.
• The collaboration involves leading institutions such as the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, University College London, and Banaras Hindu University.
• The findings could significantly contribute to understanding the genetic origins and population movements in ancient India, particularly regarding the Aryan migration theory.
• Rakhigarhi has yielded evidence of continuous habitation from the Early Harappan to the Mature Harappan periods, highlighting its long-term significance.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Archaeological Survey of India (ASI): A premier Indian government agency responsible for archaeological research and the conservation of cultural heritage.
• Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI): A scientific institution under the Ministry of Culture, dedicated to anthropological research and human biological studies.
• Indus-Saraswati Civilisation: Also known as the Harappan Civilisation, it was a Bronze Age civilization in the northwestern regions of South Asia.
• Ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis: The study of DNA extracted from archaeological remains, providing insights into ancient populations and their genetic history.
• Aryan migration theory: A hypothesis suggesting the arrival of Indo-Aryan-speaking people into the Indian subcontinent from Central Asia during the Bronze Age.